Voters to decide on lodging tax reauthorization in November

Official clarifies state versus local lodging tax rates

Sweetwater County boasts high historical support for lodging tax

Official warns of complacency ahead of lodging tax vote

Local events face funding cuts if lodging tax fails

Long-term workforce exempt from Sweetwater lodging tax

Rock Springs retains majority control over tourism board

Tourism CEO cites lack of private investment as hurdle

Tourism board creates local attractions to boost visitation

Voters to decide on lodging tax reauthorization in November

SWEETWATER COUNTY, Wyo. — Sweetwater County residents will vote on whether to reauthorize a 2% local lodging tax in the upcoming November general election. Jenissa Meredith, chief executive officer of Sweetwater County Travel and Tourism, noted that the tax, which is paid by visitors staying in hotels and campgrounds, has been on the ballot every four years since 1991. The revenue is strictly designated for marketing the county and cannot be used for building physical attractions like theme parks or zip lines.

Official clarifies state versus local lodging tax rates

SWEETWATER COUNTY, Wyo. — Although visitors to Sweetwater County pay a 7% lodging tax, only 2% is controlled locally and subject to voter approval. Since 2021, the Wyoming Legislature has imposed a mandatory 5% statewide lodging tax. Of that 5%, 2% is returned to the local budget and 3% goes to the Wyoming Office of Tourism. The upcoming November ballot measure will only ask local voters to approve the additional 2% local portion, which directly funds local tourism promotion.

Sweetwater County boasts high historical support for lodging tax

SWEETWATER COUNTY, Wyo. — Sweetwater County voters have consistently supported the local lodging tax, passing it with 78% to 82% approval in recent election cycles. Jenissa Meredith, chief executive officer of Sweetwater County Travel and Tourism, who is entering her fifth election cycle with the board since 2007, praised local residents for understanding the economic benefits of the tax. She noted that it acts as a boon to the local economy because residents only pay the tax if they choose to stay in a local hotel or campground.

Official warns of complacency ahead of lodging tax vote

SWEETWATER COUNTY, Wyo. — While Sweetwater County has successfully retained its lodging tax for decades, local tourism officials warned that the tax's renewal is never guaranteed. Jenissa Meredith, chief executive officer of Sweetwater County Travel and Tourism, highlighted that Campbell County has previously seen its local voters reject the lodging tax. Campbell County voters rejected their local 2% tax in 2024, serving as a cautionary tale ahead of the November ballot.

Local events face funding cuts if lodging tax fails

SWEETWATER COUNTY, Wyo. — Dozens of Sweetwater County events, including Wyoming's Big Show and Flaming Gorge Days, could lose crucial funding if the 2% local lodging tax is not reauthorized this November. Jenissa Meredith, chief executive officer of Sweetwater County Travel and Tourism, said local events can receive up to $8,000 based on the number of hotel stays they generate. Because nearly 80% of the tourism board's budget is prioritized for out-of-county marketing to draw tourists to the area, local events would be the first to suffer funding cuts if the local tax fails.

Long-term workforce exempt from Sweetwater lodging tax

SWEETWATER COUNTY, Wyo. — Despite 65% of local hotel occupancy coming from temporary workforce personnel, long-term workers are largely exempt from the county's lodging tax. During her presentation, Jenissa Meredith, chief executive officer of Sweetwater County Travel and Tourism, clarified that anyone staying in a local hotel for longer than 30 consecutive days does not pay the 7% tax. This exemption ensures the tax primarily targets transient visitors and tourists rather than extended-stay laborers working in the area.

Rock Springs retains majority control over tourism board

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. — Because the vast majority of Sweetwater County's lodging tax is collected within Rock Springs, six of the 11 volunteer members on the local Sweetwater County Travel and Tourism Board are appointed from the city of Rock Springs. The remaining seats are distributed among representatives from Green River, Wamsutter, Superior and the Sweetwater County Commission. The 11-member board is strictly charged with administering the lodging tax revenue for regional marketing and local event funding.

Tourism CEO cites lack of private investment as hurdle

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. — A lack of private investment in tour guides and outfitters is holding back Sweetwater County's tourism potential, according to local officials. Answering a question about obstacles to economic development, Jenissa Meredith, chief executive officer of Sweetwater County Travel and Tourism, noted that unlike Cody, Jackson or Sheridan, Rock Springs has fewer private businesses supporting outdoor recreation. She attributed part of the difficulty to local land ownership issues, referring to the "checkerboard" land pattern, and urged the city to remain as business-friendly as possible to attract tourism enterprises.

Tourism board creates local attractions to boost visitation

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. — To compensate for a lack of private outfitting businesses, the Sweetwater County Travel and Tourism Board has stepped in to create and promote local recreational products. Jenissa Meredith, chief executive officer of the board, said her office launched a Flaming Gorge Bus Tour, promoted sandboarding and sand sliding at the Killpecker Sand Dunes and heavily supported local mountain biking efforts. These initiatives are designed to give out-of-town visitors more reasons to spend the night in Rock Springs.

Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below:

Contact Us