In a few months, Park County residents will no longer be responsible for the additional 1-cent capital-facilities tax passed by voters in 2006. The $13.2-million tax passed with the broad-based support of 21 out of 29 county precincts. Since then, nearly all of the money has been raised for three projects: The new Powell Aquatic Center, the renovated Meeteetse pool and the new Park County Library.Yet the break might be short-lived — city and county leaders are talking about putting another capital-facilities tax on the ballot in 2010.And for good reason.Powell's landfill faces closure, likely within the next year. The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality is requiring landfill pits to be lined to keep contaminants from seeping into groundwater. Cody's landfill, which will be lined, likely will become a catch-all for regional waste.Powell will have to transport its trash, and a 1-cent tax would help pay to build a transfer station at the current landfill site. That would save on the wear and tear of city trucks frequenting Cody.It's inevitable that garbage rates are going up. City of Powell residents and businesses are already seeing that, with bills that increased by 28 percent this month.The question now becomes how to pay for it.A 1-cent capital facilities tax makes sense. During preliminary talks last week, leaders gave a rough tax estimate of $15 million to pay for landfill costs, which would expire once it reached that set amount.On the heels of last week's discussion, Gov. Dave Freudenthal's office announced that state sales tax revenues dipped 21 percent over May and June compared to the same months last year — a plummet that will affect the financial picture in counties and cities across the state.It's a sobering reminder that today's economic climate is much different than it was when the last capital-facilities tax passed in 2006. Another 1-cent tax likely will be met with contention among some Park County voters, but officials would be wise to let the people decide in 2010 — and have a reliable Plan B in place.

In a few months, Park County residents will no longer be responsible for the additional 1-cent capital-facilities tax passed by voters in 2006.

The $13.2-million tax passed with the broad-based support of 21 out of 29 county precincts. Since then, nearly all of the money has been raised for three projects: The new Powell Aquatic Center, the renovated Meeteetse pool and the new Park County Library.

Yet the break might be short-lived — city and county leaders are talking about putting another capital-facilities tax on the ballot in 2010.

And for good reason.

Powell's landfill faces closure, likely within the next year. The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality is requiring landfill pits to be lined to keep contaminants from seeping into groundwater. Cody's landfill, which will be lined, likely will become a catch-all for regional waste.

Powell will have to transport its trash, and a 1-cent tax would help pay to build a transfer station at the current landfill site. That would save on the wear and tear of city trucks frequenting Cody.

It's inevitable that garbage rates are going up. City of Powell residents and businesses are already seeing that, with bills that increased by 28 percent this month.

The question now becomes how to pay for it.

A 1-cent capital facilities tax makes sense. During preliminary talks last week, leaders gave a rough tax estimate of $15 million to pay for landfill costs, which would expire once it reached that set amount.

On the heels of last week's discussion, Gov. Dave Freudenthal's office announced that state sales tax revenues dipped 21 percent over May and June compared to the same months last year — a plummet that will affect the financial picture in counties and cities across the state.

It's a sobering reminder that today's economic climate is much different than it was when the last capital-facilities tax passed in 2006.

Another 1-cent tax likely will be met with contention among some Park County voters, but officials would be wise to let the people decide in 2010 — and have a reliable Plan B in place.