Distribution.

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39-15-211. Distribution.

(a) For all revenue collected by the department from the taxes imposed under W.S. 39-15-204(a)(i), (ii), (v) and (vi) the department shall:

(i) For revenues collected under W.S. 39-15-204(a)(i):

(A) Deduct one percent (1%) to defray the costs of collecting the tax and administrative expenses incident thereto which shall be deposited into the general fund;

(B) Deposit the remainder into an account for monthly distribution to counties imposing the tax and its cities and towns. The distribution to the county and its cities and towns shall be equal to the amount collected in each county less the costs of collection as provided by subparagraph (a)(i)(A) of this section. The distribution shall be as follows:

(I) To the county for deposit into its general fund in the proportion the population of the county situated outside the corporate limits of its cities and towns bears to the total population of the county;

(II) To the incorporated cities and towns within the county for deposit into their treasuries in the proportion the population of each city or town bears to the total population of the county.

(C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, a county and its cities and towns receiving distributions under this paragraph may expend not to exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount received under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph for the purposes of economic development provided:

(I) The intent to use a portion of the amount distributed for economic development was indicated by specific language on the ballot as provided by W.S. 39-15-203(a)(i)(C) or the enactment of a resolution or ordinance stating that a portion of the proceeds would be used for "economic development";

(II) The county has not imposed a tax under W.S. 39-15-204(a)(vi).

(ii) For revenues collected under W.S. 39-15-204(a)(ii):

(A) During the first year the tax is imposed in a county, city or town, two percent (2%) shall be deducted for the costs to the state of initial implementation of collection and administration of the tax, and one percent (1%) each year thereafter for state administrative costs with the proceeds to be deposited in the state general fund;

(B) Except as provided in subparagraph (a)(ii)(C) of this section, distribute the balance on a monthly basis to the treasurer of each county, city or town imposing the tax in an amount equal to the amount collected in each entity less the costs of collection as provided by subparagraph (a)(ii)(A) of this section. Amounts distributed under this subparagraph shall be used for the following purposes:

(I) Except as provided by subdivision (III) of this subparagraph, at least ninety percent (90%) of the amount distributed shall be used to promote travel and tourism within the county, city or town imposing the tax. Expenditures for travel and tourism promotion shall be limited to promotional materials, television and radio advertising, printed advertising, digital content, social media, promotion of tours, staging of events, educational materials, and other specific tourism related objectives, provided that none of these funds shall be spent for capital construction or improvements. If the amount is collected under a tax imposed countywide, expenditures of this amount shall be made in accordance with the Uniform Municipal Fiscal Procedures Act by a joint powers board established pursuant to law by the county and a majority of incorporated municipalities within the county. Membership of the board shall include at least one (1) representative appointed by each governmental entity made a party to the agreement and the majority of the board membership shall be comprised of representatives of the travel and tourism industry;

(II) Except as provided by subdivision (III) of this subparagraph, the amount remaining not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the total amount distributed shall be used for general revenue within the governmental entity imposing the tax. If the amount is collected under a tax imposed countywide, the joint powers board established under subdivision (a)(ii)(B)(I) of this section shall distribute the amount remaining to the county for deposit in its general fund in the proportion that the amount collected outside the corporate limits of its cities and towns bears to the total amount collected within the county, and to incorporated cities and towns within the county for deposit into their treasuries in the proportion that the amount collected within the corporate limits of each city and town bears to the total amount collected within the county;

(III) If any of the conditions specified in subparagraph (H) of this paragraph are met, the amount collected less the cost of collection as provided by subparagraph (a)(ii)(A) of this section shall be distributed as follows:

(1) Sixty percent (60%) shall be used to promote travel and tourism within the county, city or town imposing the tax in accordance with subdivision (I) of this subparagraph;

(2) Ten percent (10%) shall be deposited in the general fund of the county. If the amount is collected under a tax imposed countywide, the joint powers board established under subdivision (a)(ii)(B)(I) of this section shall distribute the amount to the county for deposit in its general fund in the proportion that the amount collected outside the corporate limits of its cities and towns bears to the total amount collected within the county, and to incorporated cities and towns within the county for deposit into their treasuries in the proportion that the amount collected within the corporate limits of each city and town bears to the total amount collected within the county;

(3) Thirty percent (30%) shall be used for the provision of visitor impact services within the governmental entity imposing the tax. If the amount is collected under a tax imposed countywide, the joint powers board shall distribute the amount to the county under the same terms and conditions as provided under subdivision (III)(2) of this subparagraph, but the funds shall only be used for the purposes specified in this subdivision. As used in this section, "visitor impact services" includes, but is not limited to, provision of vehicle parking, public transportation, public restrooms, pedestrian and bicycle pathways, museums and other displays.

(C) If the proposition to continue the tax is defeated and a county, city or town does not reimpose the tax under W.S. 39-15-204(a)(ii), the department shall retain revenues collected during the last three (3) months the tax is in effect to provide for refund of any overpayment of tax. One (1) year after the tax expires, the department shall distribute the balance of the revenues retained under this subparagraph to the treasurer of that county, city or town;

(D) Repealed by Laws 2020, ch. 14, § 2.

(E) Repealed by Laws 2020, ch. 14, § 2.

(F) Repealed by Laws 2020, ch. 14, § 2.

(G) Repealed by Laws 2020, ch. 14, § 2.

(H) The amount collected shall be distributed as provided in subdivision (B)(III) of this paragraph if the revenue collected by the county, city or town equals or exceeds the amounts as specified in subdivisions (I) through (III) of this subparagraph, adjusted annually for the percentage increase in the Wyoming cost-of-living index for the previous fiscal year as determined by the division of economic analysis of the department of administration and information:

(I) If the county, city or town is not imposing a lodging tax under W.S. 39-15-204(a)(ii), the amount of assessment revenue received from the two percent (2%) assessment on lodging services imposed pursuant to W.S. 39-15-104(h)(ii) for each of the preceding three (3) years equals or exceeds one million eight hundred fifty thousand dollars ($1,850,000.00) or it can reasonably be presumed, based on sales tax collection records, that the annual amount that will be received by the city, town or county will equal or exceed one million eight hundred fifty thousand dollars ($1,850,000.00);

(II) If the county, city or town has imposed a one percent (1%) lodging tax under W.S. 39-15-204(a)(ii), the amount of assessment revenue received from that tax plus the two percent (2%) assessment on lodging services imposed pursuant to W.S. 39-15-104(h)(ii) for each of the preceding three (3) years equals or exceeds two million seven hundred eighty thousand dollars ($2,780,000.00) or it can reasonably be presumed, based on sales tax collection records, that the annual amount that will be received by the city, town or county will equal or exceed two million seven hundred eighty thousand dollars ($2,780,000.00);

(III) If the county, city or town has imposed a two percent (2%) lodging tax under W.S. 39-15-204(a)(ii), the amount of assessment revenue received from that tax plus the two percent (2%) assessment on lodging services imposed pursuant to W.S. 39-15-104(h)(ii) for each of the preceding three (3) years equals or exceeds three million seven hundred thousand dollars ($3,700,000.00) or it can reasonably be presumed, based on sales tax collection records, that the annual amount that will be received by the city, town or county will equal or exceed three million seven hundred thousand dollars ($3,700,000.00).

(iii) For revenues collected under W.S. 39-15-204(a)(v):

(A) Deduct one percent (1%) to defray the costs of collecting the tax and administrative expenses incident thereto which shall be deposited into the general fund;

(B) Deposit the remainder into an account for monthly distribution to resort districts imposing the tax.

(iv) For revenues collected under W.S. 39-15-204(a)(vi):

(A) Deduct one percent (1%) to defray the costs of collecting the tax and administrative expenses incident thereto which shall be deposited into the general fund;

(B) Deposit the remainder into an account for monthly distribution to counties imposing the tax and its cities and towns. The distribution to the county and its cities and towns shall be equal to the amount collected in each county less the costs of collection as provided by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph. The distribution shall be as follows:

(I) To the county for deposit into its general fund in the proportion the population of the county situated outside the corporate limits of its cities and towns bears to the total population of the county;

(II) To the incorporated cities and towns within the county for deposit into their treasuries in the proportion the population of each city or town bears to the total population of the county.

(b) For all revenue collected by the department from the taxes imposed by W.S. 39-15-204(a)(iii) the department shall:

(i) Deduct one percent (1%) to defray the costs of collecting the tax and administrative expenses incident thereto which shall be deposited into the general fund;

(ii) Deposit the remainder into an account for monthly distribution to the county treasurer of the county in which the tax has been imposed to be distributed immediately by the treasurer to the sponsoring entity;

(iii) Any interest earned from investment of the revenues may only be used for costs related to the purposes approved on the ballot, including operation and maintenance costs, and shall be distributed to each sponsoring entity in the same proportion as its cost is to the total cost of all purposes identified on the ballot;

(iv) If taxes collected exceed the amount necessary for the approved purpose, the excess funds shall be retained by the county treasurer for one (1) year for refund of overpayments of the tax imposed pursuant to this act upon order of the department. After one (1) year any interest earned on the excess funds and the excess funds less any refunds ordered shall be deposited in the applicable reserve account authorized by W.S. 39-15-203(a)(iii)(H) or transferred to the county or municipality as specified in the resolution adopted pursuant to W.S. 39-15-203(a)(iii)(A). If the resolution fails to specify how excess funds will be expended and after all approved purposes have been completed, the county treasurer shall transfer the excess funds less any refunds ordered to each city and town within the county in the proportion the population of the city or town bears to the population of the county and to the county in the proportion that the population of the unincorporated areas of the county bears to the population of the county. After a public hearing, with notice of the public hearing published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least thirty (30) days before the public hearing, the governing body of the county and each municipality may appropriate its proportion of excess funds for other specific purposes authorized by a majority vote of the governing body, which shall not include the ordinary operations of local government. Excess funds collected on the propositions approved prior to January 1, 1989, and any interest earned shall be retained by the county treasurer for use in any purposes approved by the electors in accordance with procedures set forth in this section and for refunds of overpayment of taxes imposed pursuant to this act upon the order of the department, except that, with the approval of the governing bodies adopting the initial resolution, the excess funds and any interest earned may be used for the needs of the project for which the tax was approved.

(c) Repealed By Laws 1999, ch. 54, § 2.

(d) For all revenue collected by the department from the taxes imposed by W.S. 39-15-204(a)(vii) the department shall:

(i) Deduct one percent (1%) to defray the costs of collecting the tax and administrative expenses incident thereto which shall be deposited into the general fund;

(ii) Deposit the remainder into an account for monthly distribution to the city or town in which the tax has been imposed which shall only be used by the city or town for costs related to the purposes approved in the proposition to impose the tax.


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