02/19/2026
‼️The Big Piney Recreation Center is primarily funded by the recreation mill levied by Sublette County School District #9.
This recreation mill makes up 65–75% of the Recreation Center’s annual operating budget. It is the foundation that allows programs, facility operations, maintenance, and community services to continue year after year.
❓What Is a Recreation Mill❓
Current Wyoming law allows school districts, counties, and cities to levy up to 1 mill on taxable property for public recreation.
In this case:
School District #9 levies the recreation mill that supports the Big Piney Recreation Center.
For homeowners, the recreation mill costs approximately:
$9.50 per $100,000 of home value
$38 per year on a $400,000 home
In Sublette County, mineral taxes from energy companies contribute the majority of the total mill funding.
This local funding source provides stable and predictable support for recreation services in our community.
Proposed legislation, HB0127, would:
Remove the authority of local school boards to levy the recreation mill.
Require the continuation of the recreation mill levy to go to public vote every FOUR years.
The bill has passed out of committee and has returned to the House for debate and consideration.
What Would This Mean for Big Piney Recreation Center?
If passed, funding would only be secured four years at a time.
This uncertainty could significantly impact:
Long-term operational planning
Staffing stability
Programming decisions
Facility maintenance and repairs
Gym usage for school events
Maintaining and purchasing equipment
⚠️⚠️Our rec center’s continued operation depends on receiving the recreation mill levy funding from the school. Without this critical funding, we will likely be forced to close our doors.⚠️⚠️
Stable funding allows the Recreation Center to:
Continue operations
Maintain the facilities
Keep offering programs
Serve the community
Uncertainty makes those long-term commitments more difficult.
This legislation could directly impact the future of recreation services in Big Piney and throughout Sublette County.
Stay informed and ask questions.
