November of 2026 the taxpayers have the opportunity to vote for the "one-cent" optional penny tax. Now, re-named the GPET tax. While local non-profits get some money from the GPET, to help pay for salaries and operational costs, the majority of the GPET revenue goes into the City's and County's general revenue accounts.
The city, with a population of 19,000, will pass a 2026 budget of $145 million. The city of Cheyenne's, population 65,000, budget for 2026, is also, $145 million. What, you say?
Let us return to the GPET tax, if passed, that 1¢ would round up to 5¢ on the dollar. How did this tax increase happen?
President Donald Trump agreed to halt the printing of pennies in 2026. This means the 5¢ is the lowest coin minted after 2026. The action is different in the private sector, from what would occur in the public sector. The penny can round down or round up to the nickel. This is not a new idea. In 1989, U.S. Representative Jim Kolbe, introduced H.R. 3761 to eliminate the penny. To round-up to the nickel. He tried again in 2001 and 2006. In 2017, Senators John McCain and Mike Enzi introduced, S. 759, to eliminate the penny, this also failed. Currently, Colorado governor Jarad Polis, supports a round-up, to the nickel, as a tax revenue increase.
On May 22, 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department announced it would end penny production by 2026.
When you vote for the GPET, you will vote to round-up to the nickel. Could the round-up to 5¢ on every dollar spent, be the anticipated extra $45 million in the 2026 city budget?
Your tire hit a pothole, you have leaking ductile pipes under your streets. The water pipes to your home are lead. It's taken six years to replace the infrastructure in North Heights, and these streets still need to be re-paved. The streets are plowed, but the snow locks your car to the curb. Sorry, you can't vote out the bureaucrats that run the city, oops. Your can vote, No, on the GPET tax, in Nov of 2026.
If your are dissatisfied with your City and County government, don't give them more money, there is no guarantee you will get a return on your investment.
[Verse 1] Every time it rains It rains pennies from heaven Don't you know each cloud contains Pennies from heaven? [Verse 2] You'll find your fortune's fallin' All over the town Be sure that your umbrella Is upside down [Chorus] Trade them for a package of Sunshine and flowers If you want the things you love You must have showers [Verse 3] So, when you hear it thunder Don't run under a tree There'll be pennies from heaven For you and me [Chorus] So when you hear it thunder Don't run under a tree There'll be pennies from heaven For you and me
To join in on the dialog, contact sheridanclash@gmail.com.