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Funding Recreation in Wyoming Communities: A Guide to Revenue Mechanisms, Partnerships, and Financing Tools for Local Governments
Wangen, Emily
Wangen, Emily
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Abstract
Funding Recreation in Wyoming Communities: A Guide to Revenue Mechanisms, Partnerships, and Financing Tools for Local Governments (Wangen, April 2026) is a practical legal guide produced by the Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute in collaboration with the College of Law’s Gina Guy Center for Land and Water Law. The report surveys the primary funding mechanisms Wyoming law allows counties, municipalities, school districts, and unincorporated communities to build and maintain recreation infrastructure, from trails and parks to aquatic centers and community facilities.
The guide organizes these tools into six categories: excise taxes (including Special Purpose Excise Taxes, municipal excise taxes, and lodging/tourism taxes); public recreation districts and mill levies; joint powers agreements and boards; improvement and service districts; county and municipal bonding authority; and state and federal grant programs, including the newly established Wyoming Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund (ORTTF) and the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). For each mechanism, the report identifies the governing Wyoming statutes, outlines legal requirements and procedural limits, and illustrates practical application through Wyoming case examples such as the Casper SPET, the Albany County Recreation Board, and the Pinedale Aquatic Center. Quick-reference tables throughout make it a useful desk reference for local officials, planners, and community stakeholders evaluating how to finance recreation projects in their jurisdictions.
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Date
2026-04-24
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Publisher
University of Wyoming Libraries
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Keywords
Recreation,Funding,Local Government,Recreation Infrastructure,Revenue Mechanisms,Public Recreation Districts,WORTH Institute,Gina Guy Center,Wyoming
Citation
Wangen, E. (2026). Recreation in Wyoming communities: A guide to revenue mechanisms, partnerships, and financing tools for local governments. University of Wyoming Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute. Laramie, WY.
License
Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International