Nearly $6 million of surplus minerals money will be funneled into Big Horn County over the next two years, according to the state’s recently approved budget.


Each of the county’s nine incorporated towns will each receive a “direct distribution” of unrestricted funds for FY 2008-2009 and FY 2009-2010 based on population. The distributions range from Lovell’s $314,000 each year to Manderson’s $18,637 each year.


The remaining portion of the money, $4,352,070, over the next two years, is earmarked for County Consensus Block Grants.


In the past, any municipality, unincorporated community or tax district with a need for dollars for a capital improvement project sent a representative to Cheyenne to present its request to the State Loan and Investment Board. One year ago, drastic changes resulted in local governments deciding which community’s sewer lagoon, raw water system, water tank replacement or other capital improvement project should receive top priority.
The idea behind the change is that the board of county commissioners has a greater understanding of local needs than a group of five elected officials in Cheyenne, Sen. Ray Peterson, R-Cowley, said.


The SLIB includes Gov. Dave Freudenthal, Secretary of State Max Maxfield, State Treasurer Joe Meyer, State Auditor Rita Meyer and Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jim McBride.


The county commission must make a recommendation to forward the list to SLIB for final approval, but in reality each town is responsible for making the selections because Wyoming law requires that 70 percent of the county’s municipalities must agree and sign off on the ranking list, according to county grant consultant Linda Harp.


Wyoming’s 490 special tax districts were left out of the equation last year when lawmakers failed to address them specifically in the text of the new law. The problem was corrected in this year’s legislative session. Now, for Big Horn County, with 73 special districts — more than any other county in the state — commissioners must determine the best course of action to accommodate the 90 eligible entities overall.


“It will definitely be a challenge,” said Harp. “The phone is already ringing.”


Harp and former county commissioner Don Russell are working to develop a uniform grant application that will be available to all eligible parties. A meeting will be held in the near future for mayors and other interested parties to discuss the process.


The consensus list is due to SLIB by May 15. Peterson, who served on the Joint Appropriations Committee last year, said a direct distribution formula is a good idea, because the county can prioritize projects within its boundaries.


 Last year $1,373,160 was allotted for all projects within the county. Lovell’s sewer and water infrastructure project was ranked first, Basin’s electrical substation upgrade ranked second, Cowley’s sewer and water infrastrucuture project placed third and Manderson’s leaky water tower replacement was the fourth priority.