Tax for UW and other Wyo. colleges athletic programs

[lakeside]

Would there be support for $.01 tax on alcohol and tobacco sales which would go towards funding college athletics programs across the state based upon school enrollment?

 

[Brew_Poke]

Would there be support for $.01 tax on alcohol and tobacco sales which would go towards funding college athletics programs across the state based upon school enrollment?

LOL, you think a new tax is ever gonna pass in Wyoming? In this political climate? I'd be surprised in local school bonds were passing there. Did you read the asinine WTE op-ed today?
That'll never pass. I'd be pleasantly surprised if the jokers in the Legislature would even put some cash into a fund for UW athletics so that they could spend the interest.

 

[Wyovanian]

Would there be support for $.01 tax on alcohol and tobacco sales which would go towards funding college athletics programs across the state based upon school enrollment?

Not likely. Liquor and tobacco dealers have powerful lobbyists.

That being said, I think you could sell it a different way- sell it to the liquor dealers as a long term benefit- e.g. Wyoming Football and Basketball improve and liquor sales go up with fan interest- i.e. viewing parties, sports lounges, and Laramie area sales.

Not sure I'd package it as a tax, though. Especially one that affects citizens as much or more than visitors.

Also, it'b be a much better proposition if it benefited all state college and prep-level athletics. Sure, it dilutes the pie a bit, but a one-shot solution is rarely a good approach to revenue enhancement. Better to go at it from many angles, depths, and altitudes.

 

[Fullback41]

I have and believe I will continue to support any and all local tax initiatives that go towards local city, county, or state projects.

I would support this 100%. But I would support just about any initiative towards making UW football competitive.

A 100 million endowment for UW football coaches would be awesome. But we shouldn't pursue that, we should lower our expectations. The residents of the state wouldn't benefit at all from the state pride, camaraderie and fellowship of sitting together with others from around the state supporting a competitive football team. Sarcasm... sorry, that other thread still has me boiling.

I have a dream, that someday fans from around the state will fill War Memorial Stadium with season tickets and cheer at the top of their lungs as our team wins a conference championship.... and possibly a BCS bowl berth. Yes, I am one of those foolish souls that can't understand how this is not possible. The fellowship from the stands packed with strangers that become friends as they cheer on the Pokes week after week would be awesome. This is my dream for UW football.

 

[WyoBrandX]

How about some of the lottery revenues?

 

[Wyovanian]

How about some of the lottery revenues?

Everything helps. I am a supporter of the athletic/ coaching endowment notion though. $100M, as suggested isn't a terribly realistic starting point, but a $10-12M endowment averaging 10% should be doable with 2.5-3% reinvested. This would initially provide $750K-$1M, which is a good dent. If the state managed to match 50% you're looking at funding close to 75% of a $2M assistants' salary budget. The balance could easily be picked up by a share of lottery revenue, some sort of sin "tax" increase, very modest facilities and use fees, etc.

 

[ELKMT]

How about increasing student fees? I would be willing to bet every other school in the MW except AF uses student fees as a significant chunk of athletic funding. Even a 100 dollar increase would be significant. You would also think CJC could go after new members in the student population a little more. Maybe some thing like a free guest pass, a hot dog, & a Pepsi for a 50 $ student donation. Just some thoughts, I believe we can increase the athletic budget if the admin. would get creative.

Sadly, I am not sure if we can increase the athletic fund by increasing overall attendance. We had shit for attendance during 96, so it would probably take multiple great years to fix that issue.

One last rant on funding. Be a voter, make sure the candidate knows that UW athletics are and important topic. Stop electing legislators who are from Colorado, Utah, & alums from BYU, Colorado st., & other Utah schools.

 

[Fullback41]

How about some of the lottery revenues?

I'm for it.

 

[Fullback41]

How about some of the lottery revenues?

Everything helps. I am a supporter of the athletic/ coaching endowment notion though. $100M, as suggested isn't a terribly realistic starting point, but a $10-12M endowment averaging 10% should be doable with 2.5-3% reinvested. This would initially provide $750K-$1M, which is a good dent. If the state managed to match 50% you're looking at funding close to 75% of a $2M assistants' salary budget. The balance could easily be picked up by a share of lottery revenue, some sort of sin "tax" increase, very modest facilities and use fees, etc.

I wasn't thinking of it as a starting point, more of a point at which the current HC and staff salaries could all be paid at a competitive level. Yep it is a lot, but I'd like to be a fan of that wacky school that can afford the best college coaches in the world and doesn't even need current funding to do it, and is ALWAYS competitive. If we accomplished even a fraction of it, it could make a huge impact.

 

[Wyovanian]

How about increasing student fees? I would be willing to bet every other school in the MW except AF uses student fees as a significant chunk of athletic funding. Even a 100 dollar increase would be significant. You would also think CJC could go after new members in the student population a little more. Maybe some thing like a free guest pass, a hot dog, & a Pepsi for a 50 $ student donation. Just some thoughts, I believe we can increase the athletic budget if the admin. would get creative.

Sadly, I am not sure if we can increase the athletic fund by increasing overall attendance. We had shit for attendance during 96, so it would probably take multiple great years to fix that issue.

One last rant on funding. Be a voter, make sure the candidate knows that UW athletics are and important topic. Stop electing legislators who are from Colorado, Utah, & alums from BYU, Colorado st., & other Utah schools.

The CJC needs to be made over/ reinvented. There needs to be outreach within the CJC directly to active students, directly to general alumni, directly to former athletes, and directly to the upper tiers of donors. All outreach must fully goaled and accountable. The CJC also needs to be more entrepreneurial vis a vis non-donation revenue enhancement.

 

[Fullback41]

How about increasing student fees? I would be willing to bet every other school in the MW except AF uses student fees as a significant chunk of athletic funding. Even a 100 dollar increase would be significant. You would also think CJC could go after new members in the student population a little more. Maybe some thing like a free guest pass, a hot dog, & a Pepsi for a 50 $ student donation. Just some thoughts, I believe we can increase the athletic budget if the admin. would get creative.

Sadly, I am not sure if we can increase the athletic fund by increasing overall attendance. We had shit for attendance during 96, so it would probably take multiple great years to fix that issue.

One last rant on funding. Be a voter, make sure the candidate knows that UW athletics are and important topic. Stop electing legislators who are from Colorado, Utah, & alums from BYU, Colorado st., & other Utah schools.

I'm for it and I have an incoming freshman next year.

 

[Wyovanian]

How about some of the lottery revenues?

Everything helps. I am a supporter of the athletic/ coaching endowment notion though. $100M, as suggested isn't a terribly realistic starting point, but a $10-12M endowment averaging 10% should be doable with 2.5-3% reinvested. This would initially provide $750K-$1M, which is a good dent. If the state managed to match 50% you're looking at funding close to 75% of a $2M assistants' salary budget. The balance could easily be picked up by a share of lottery revenue, some sort of sin "tax" increase, very modest facilities and use fees, etc.

I wasn't thinking of it as a starting point, more of a point at which the current HC and staff salaries could all be paid at a competitive level. Yep it is a lot, but I'd like to be a fan of that wacky school that can afford the best college coaches in the world and doesn't even need current funding to do it, and is ALWAYS competitive. If we accomplished even a fraction of it, it could make a huge impact.

I think we're on the same page- $100M is an excellent goal, but we've got to start somewhere. This is a multi-generational investment, best sold to donors as one of a fairly modest front-load.