Community Learning Series welcomes discussion on Casper sales and lodging taxes
The first presentation of 2026 for the Casper College Community Learning Series, “Exploring Today’s Issues, Shaping Wyoming’s Tomorrow,” is titled “Your Tax Dollars at Work.” The free program will take place on Jan. 26, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Robert and Ruth Dove Conference Center, Room 225, in the Walter H. Nolte Gateway Center on the Casper College campus.
Speakers
According to Andee Stewart, Community Learning Series committee member, the event will feature three presenters: Annette Pitts, Zulima Lopez, and Janine Jordan. Pitts will discuss the lodging tax, and Lopez and Jordan will discuss the fifth and sixth cent sales tax.
Lodging Tax
Pitts is the CEO of Visit Casper, a joint powers board whose “ … mission is to bring visitors to Natrona County in support of our local economy and quality of life.” Visit Casper is funded by the 2% Natrona County Lodging Tax. The tax is paid by anyone who stays overnight in the county’s hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, Airbnbs, and campgrounds.
Fifth and sixth cent taxes
Lopez is the director of Casper’s Parks, Recreation and Public Facilities Department. Jordan is Casper’s city manager. The county has both a fifth- and a sixth-cent sales tax. According to the city’s website, the Optional One Cent, or fifth cent, sales tax is used almost exclusively for infrastructure, equipment, and to support local nonprofit agencies. The tax comes up for renewal in the general election in November.
The sixth-cent tax is a temporary tax, levied on taxable purchases in the county. Voters approved the tax in the 2024 general election, and it began on April 1, 2025. The additional penny tax will cease once funds have been raised for the four propositions approved by voters, totaling approximately $18.2 million.
About Annette Pitts
According to her biography, Pitts has over 15 years of experience in destination marketing and management. Previously, she was the CEO of Experience Olympia & Beyond and served as the executive director of the Cascade Loop National Scenic Byway. Pitts holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a Certified Destination Management Executive certification through Destinations International.
About Zulima Lopez
Lopez has been employed with the City of Casper since 1999 and, since 2021, has been the director of the City of Casper Parks, Recreation and Public Facilities Department. She has two associate degrees from Casper College in drafting and design and construction management, as well as a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership from the University of Wyoming.
About Janine Jordan
Jordan began her tenure as Casper’s city manager in December 2025. Jordan spent over 20 years working for the city of Laramie, the last 17 as the city manager. A Casper native, she attended Casper College and completed an undergraduate degree and an MPA from the University of Wyoming. She is also a Certified City Manager through the International City/County Management Association.
About the Casper College Community Learning Series
The Casper College Community Learning Series is guided by its mission: to connect our community through learning, dialogue, and discovery. As Casper’s community college, we are committed to offering thought-provoking programs that address issues shaping our community and Wyoming’s future. Through engaging lectures, we will foster civic engagement, inspire lifelong learning, and strengthen the partnerships that drive Casper and Wyoming forward.
Learn more about the Casper College Community Learning Series.