A last-ditch effort on Thursday saved the $19.5 million Wyoming state shooting complex, securing $10 million in state funds for the project.
Corporate sponsorships, private donations and other funding sources are expected to provide the rest of the shooting complex’s budget.
Sens. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs and Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, were instrumental in bringing an amendment to Senate File 169, which transfers funds from the state’s strategic investments and projects account (SIPA).
The amendment included transferring $10 million to the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources for the shooting complex. The amendment also transfers $9 million to the Wyoming Department of Corrections, for security systems upgrades.
A Tale Of Two $10M Funds
The $10 million in SIPA money will replace that same amount, allocated by the Legislature in 2023, which was supposed to be included in the supplemental budget.
That was put in jeopardy when the Legislature killed the supplemental budget.
There was an attempt to amend the $10 million into an omnibus water bill. During the debate leading up to the vote on that measure on Feb. 28, some senators, including Rothfuss, balked at the idea of using water funds for the shooting complex.
That amendment failed, apparently sealing the shooting complex’s fate.
But Thursday’s amendment, transferring the $10 million in SIPA funds, essentially resurrected the project.
It unanimously passed a joint conference committee late Thursday morning.
That afternoon, the amendment was adopted by the Senate by vote of 19-9, three absent. It was also adopted by the House, 38-15, nine absent.
What Happens To That First $10M Now?
The Legislature started the process during its 2023 session. It passed a bill forming a shooting complex task force and set aside the original $10 million.
Several Wyoming communities vied to be selected as the site for the shooting complex and brought their proposals before the task force.
Park County emerged as the winner, proposing construction on a site south of Cody.
The release of the $10 million during this year’s legislative session was supposed to be essentially a formality.
With the SIPA money set to be transferred to the shooting complex project, the original $10 million will remain in holding until June 30, 2026 – when it will revert back to its original sources. That includes $5 million from the state’s general fund, and $2.5 million each from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Wyoming Travel and Tourism fund.
‘Turning Dirt’
Scott Weber, owner of Gunrunner Firearms & Auctions in Cody, sits on the shooting complex advisory board.
He told Cowboy State Daily that with the project back on track, the plan is to “start turning dirt” in April.
Advocates of the shooting complex say it will be a “world-class” facility – attracting top-notch shooters and crowds of spectators for shooting competitions.
The vision is for the shooting complex to become self-sufficient, while also pulling big tourism money into Park County and the rest of Wyoming.
Detractors argue that Cody’s weather, relatively remote location and other problems will make that too tall of an order, and the shooting complex might not break even.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
