Dear editor:

Park County has a proven tool that strengthens every community in this county: the Specific Purpose Tax. It is one of the fairest taxes we have — visitors pay roughly 30% of it, easing the burden on local residents. And unlike other taxes, this one is temporary and inflexible: It ends when the exact dollar amount is raised, which is estimated to take about two years. Every penny must go only to the projects listed on the ballot. No substitutions. No political games. Just results.

And those results are everywhere. The Powell swimming pool, used daily by families, students and athletes, exists because voters approved this tax. The Cody Library, one of the most used public buildings in the county, was built with these funds. Voters made the Park County Law Enforcement Center, a cornerstone of public safety, possible. Meeteetse has completed multiple infrastructure upgrades through this tax — practical improvements that small towns cannot fund alone. These aren’t minor achievements; they are long lasting investments that continue serving Park County decades later.

Now we face new needs we cannot ignore. The Cody Auditorium is overdue for major renovation. It is a community workhorse — hosting nonprofit events, youth programs, performances, and public gatherings — but it is aging fast. Without Specific Purpose Tax funding, Cody will be stuck patching a building that needs real renovation.

In Powell, the new Senior Center will provide meals, activities and essential services for the people who built this county — something Powell cannot finance alone.

In Meeteetse, the tax will fund a new garbage truck and additional infrastructure improvements that are simply out of reach without countywide support.

Park County has seen the results. We know this tax works. Voting for it on Nov. 3 is essential to enhancing our communities’ future.

Sandy Newsome

Cody