Budget Proposals Finalized
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The Green River Star T h u rs d a y , M a r c h 1 8 , 2 0 2 1 $ 1.5 0Vol. 130, No. 43 Thursday, March 18, 2021 $1.50Vol. This issue is for Dean and Jackie Simmons and the people of Sweetwater County. Storm delays COVID vaccine shipments By MORGAN HUGHES Casper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange CASPER — Vaccines headed for Wyoming will be delayed as residents emerge from a record- setting winter storm that dumped more than two feet of snow on parts of the state this weekend. Federal officials halted shipments of the vaccine into Wyoming until the storm clears, though it remains up in the air when those shipments will arrive, Wyoming Department of Health spokeswoman Kim Deti said via email. “They aren’t going to send us shipments when airports may be closed or when roads are closed,” Deti said. “We know our shipments into the state this week from manufacturers/distributors are on hold. We don’t have an exact timetable for when they may arrive as that depends on roads and other travel factors.” Hundreds of miles of state and federal highways have been closed amid the storm, including large stretches of Interstates 25, 80 and 90. Portions are beginning to reopen, but slowly. The storm previously shut down the Denver International Airport, which reopened Monday evening. Deti said the state will receive the missed doses when the weather clears and when roads are passable. The state had anticipated nearly 15,000 vaccine doses to be delivered this week between all three Practice makes perfect approved manufacturers, but no vaccines have been able to make it into the state so far this week, Shawn Arellano and Korbin Arnell make plays for the soccer ball during a practice Tuesday at Wolves Deti said. Stadium. The Wolves and Lady Wolves will play their fi rst games Friday. Star photo by David Martin She added it’s likely the storm will also slow local efforts to get shots out as communities hit hardest by the storm are largely shut down while the snow is cleared. What the storm means for individual counties Budget proposals fi nalized will depend on local health officials. The Casper-Natrona County Health Department By TOM COULTER ing weeks. has been closed the last two days. Spokeswoman Wyoming Tribune Eagle Last Friday, lawmakers in their respective Hailey Bloom said it hasn’t caused an issue yet, Via Wyoming News Exchange chambers finalized their versions of the state’s and that so far, all vaccine appointments for supplemental budget, which would cut between Monday and Tuesday have been rescheduled for CHEYENNE — After two days without meeting $400 million and $450 million in general funds later this week. due to the historic winter storm that hit south- from the state’s two-year budget approved last In Laramie County, health officials are saving east Wyoming last weekend, state lawmakers will year, after considering several amendments mov- their vaccine doses for second shots as shipments return to the Capitol Wednesday with a divide ing around or restoring funding to certain state are delayed. between the House and Senate budget proposals agencies. that the bodies will attempt to resolve in the com- Continued on A2 Water project delayed The Monroe water line project This project will require short-term has been delayed due to frost still in closures of Monroe Avenue and the ground. East Teton. Public Works Director Mark Lewis and Lewis bid $404,880. Westenskow says the project was With the delay, the project will not originally set to start March 22, be completed until the end of May. however, will be delayed one month The project consists of an exten- due to the frost. sion of the water system to increase Rock Springs contractor Lewis available flows and allow for future and Lewis was awarded the bid in expansion and other uses, along February by the City Council. The with the installation of storm catch enclosed map shows the project. basins to aid in capturing runoff. A2 www.greenriverstar.com Thursday, March 18, 2021 Minerals pricing may not improve From A2 Department of Family state funding to a wide to set aside $10 million the rainy-day fund, or nothing to address K-12 In the House, law- Services programs that range of programs, in- to match funds for re- Legislative Stabiliza- education spending. makers took a more offer services to se- cluding in-home services search of carbon capture tion Reserve Account, “It does not touch “optimistic” approach, niors, at-risk youth and for seniors and health technology, the Senate consistently generates the largest program in as House Speaker Eric people with disabilities. care waivers for individ- otherwise declined to roughly 2% in interest the state (in education), Barlow, R-Gillette, “We’re not going to uals with developmental restore as much funding each year; thus, senators and there’s a great, big described it to report- go as deep as we did disabilities and children to the Wyoming Depart- view the savings account disparity there, where ers last Friday. In part into those ‘worst of the with mental health chal- ment of Health. as a revenue stream that I think we’re spending driven by improve- worst’ cuts, the cuts lenges, won approval by Leaders in the Sen- can bring millions in its money we do not need ments to the state’s that really harm peo- a 51-9 vote in the House. ate have described their returns. to in the one area and revenue picture and ple, elders wanting to The Senate, mean- members’ approach as “The more we drain hitting the other areas oil prices in recent stay in their homes, the while, has largely stuck being careful of tempo- (that account) down, too hard,” Scott said. months, the House’s disabled population,” with the supplemental rary price fl uctuations. the less that has, puts “I do not think that is a budget proposal re- Barlow said. budget proposed by Senate President Dan more pressure to cut responsible budget.” stores more than $40 The House’s desire Gov. Mark Gordon last Dockstader, R-Afton, programs, and so I look K-12 education million to the state’s to get rid of those cuts November, even cutting said last Friday that de- at it as just another spending, which is au- general fund, largely has been widespread. An $6 million more than spite the slight uptick in revenue stream to draw, thorized separately from for Wyoming Depart- amendment restoring the governor did. While revenues, “the long-term and I think the Senate is the rest of the state’s ment of Health and roughly $18.4 million in both chambers agreed picture doesn’t really taking it pretty serious budget, will instead like- change.” to try to protect that and ly be addressed through “We can speculate not do these one-time other legislation, includ- and say those min- things,” Hicks said. “Be- ing a proposal from eral prices are going to cause if we don’t have an Scott that would cut change,” Dockstader economic upturn with more than $100 million said. “Maybe I’m pes- mineral prices and sales from the school funding simistic, (but) I don’t and use taxes ... that just model. That bill, Senate think they will, so I means next year we’ve File 143, awaited a fi nal think the reality check got to come back and vote in the Senate as of has to come now, and cut the health programs Tuesday afternoon. that’s what we are urg- even deeper.” The budget propos- ing our body to ad- Although the Senate als will now advance dress.” did not restore funding through what is called Senate Vice President for several Department the “mirror bill” process, Larry Hicks, R-Baggs, of Health programs, an in which the respective noted the House’s exception came in an bills will be weighed by amendments largely approved amendment a conference committee New Year, New Vehicle drew from the state’s from Sen. Bo Biteman, made up of experienced Rates as low as APR* “rainy-day” savings R-Ranchester, to restore lawmakers from both 2.74% account, refl ecting the $6.5 million for the chambers. Typically Apply online at TronaValley.com different approaches of developmental disabili- done during standard the chambers. ties waiver. However, budget sessions, the pro- “They’re one-time rather than drawing cess often includes sig- monies out of a sav- from the state’s savings nifi cant back-and-forth ings account, which will account like the House between the members tell you that those are amendment, Biteman’s before an agreement is not sustainable,” Hicks proposal would take that reached on one of the said in an interview last money from state aid two bills. Friday. “That’s the dis- provided to the Univer- “The process is the cussion that we have on sity of Wyoming. folks that go represent the Senate side. It’s the While most senators the House advocate for Or, call a Loan Specialist at 800-331-6268. equivalent of kicking the were unwilling to elimi- the House position, and *APR-Annual Percentage Rate | Qualifications apply can down the road one nate the third round of they defend the House Membership required | Federally Insured by NCUA more year.” cuts included in the gov- position,” Barlow said. While the rainy-day ernor’s proposal, a few “I think if you look fund has roughly $1.3 in the chamber were op- at the votes on the billion remaining in it, posed to their fi nal ver- House side for restor- the Senate’s hesitations sion of the budget.