CSU New stadium....

[Expat_Poke]

There are reasons that they are looking to build these wind farms in Wyoming rather than in California in the first place.

Because there is more wind in Wyoming consistently than in California would be my guess.

That would be one, others are site costs, site availability, and probably not as much NIMBY attitudes in Wyoming. Point being the advantages Wyoming has means that farm isn't going to be built in California instead of Wyoming because of the relatively light tax Wyoming wants to impose on them. It is a game of chicken right now, and I hope our legislature doesn't blink first.

It is like increasing fuel taxes on commercial trucking to help fund WYDOT in keeping I-80 in shape with the heavy truck traffic. The concern is truckers saying they are going to use I-70 instead, so instead we got a general increase at the pump. I was living in Colorado at the time this was being debated and had the Cheyenne radio station on. I was shaking my head, because guess where I was, yep, I-70 and stuck in traffic. No sane trucker would have picked I-70 over I-80 based on a tax increase that would have made Wyoming more comparable to our neighboring states. I have nothing against commercial trucking, and I know that the increase on commercial fuel taxes are passed on to those buying the goods off the truck. Right now a bunch of people in California specifically San Francisco are benefiting from cheap trucking costs while WYDOT struggles to maintain all our highways with the money pit that is I-80 for them. Good grief, I sound like a tax and spend kind of person in this post, but the point is the heavy truck traffic is what makes I-80 a money pit, the consumers causing that truck traffic have some responsibility (this is very Adam Smith here) in covering the costs of what they benefit from. Our governor and legislature blinked first then***, hope they don't do the same here.

***See edit below - lesson need to double check things before shooting from the hip posting.

[LanderPoke]

Making I-80 a toll road for trucks is an interesting idea. What other options do they have?

[Expat_Poke]

Making I-80 a toll road for trucks is an interesting idea. What other options do they have?

Don't need tolls. With the International Fuel Tax Agreement, commercial trucks (and please any truckers correct any details I may be off on) pay taxes on a quarterly basis from the office based on fuel use actually driven in each state. This avoids tax avoidance at the pump. Each state sets their rates, and Wyoming was talking about increasing their rate to be roughly in line with Utah and Nebraska. Looking at 3rd quarter proposed rates we are still below Utah and Nebraska in our IFTA rates.

EDIT - I need to correct myself. Apparently a couple years after blinking Wyoming did raise their IFTA tax rates by about 70%. Still beneath Utah and Nebraska, but much more comparable. That may be why WYDOT hasn't been as vocal on their budget as before. Did it quietly, sorry for the derail.

[Wyovanian]

Making I-80 a toll road for trucks is an interesting idea. What other options do they have?

Don't need tolls. With the International Fuel Tax Agreement, commercial trucks (and please any truckers correct any details I may be off on) pay taxes on a quarterly basis from the office based on fuel use actually driven in each state. This avoids tax avoidance at the pump. Each state sets their rates, and Wyoming was talking about increasing their rate to be roughly in line with Utah and Nebraska. Looking at 3rd quarter proposed rates we are still below Utah and Nebraska in our IFTA rates.

EDIT - I need to correct myself. Apparently a couple years after blinking Wyoming did raise their IFTA tax rates by about 70%. Still beneath Utah and Nebraska, but much more comparable. That may be why WYDOT hasn't been as vocal on their budget as before. Did it quietly, sorry for the derail.

Something interesting that's simmering is a proposed 65 mph max limit on tractor trailers. Not sure how they're thinking of enforcing it, but it could be an opportunity, if the actuaries work out, to defy the limit if it's passed and at the same time raise the tax. Could see a big jump in commercial traffic as well as revenue. Keep in mind, those trucks make stops too. And when they stop, they leave money...

[laxwyo]

Making I-80 a toll road for trucks is an interesting idea. What other options do they have?

Don't need tolls. With the International Fuel Tax Agreement, commercial trucks (and please any truckers correct any details I may be off on) pay taxes on a quarterly basis from the office based on fuel use actually driven in each state. This avoids tax avoidance at the pump. Each state sets their rates, and Wyoming was talking about increasing their rate to be roughly in line with Utah and Nebraska. Looking at 3rd quarter proposed rates we are still below Utah and Nebraska in our IFTA rates.

EDIT - I need to correct myself. Apparently a couple years after blinking Wyoming did raise their IFTA tax rates by about 70%. Still beneath Utah and Nebraska, but much more comparable. That may be why WYDOT hasn't been as vocal on their budget as before. Did it quietly, sorry for the derail.

Something interesting that's simmering is a proposed 65 mph max limit on tractor trailers. Not sure how they're thinking of enforcing it, but it could be an opportunity, if the actuaries work out, to defy the limit if it's passed and at the same time raise the tax. Could see a big jump in commercial traffic as well as revenue. Keep in mind, those trucks make stops too. And when they stop, they leave money...

Not when they're driven by themselves in 10 years


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[Expat_Poke]

Making I-80 a toll road for trucks is an interesting idea. What other options do they have?

Don't need tolls. With the International Fuel Tax Agreement, commercial trucks (and please any truckers correct any details I may be off on) pay taxes on a quarterly basis from the office based on fuel use actually driven in each state. This avoids tax avoidance at the pump. Each state sets their rates, and Wyoming was talking about increasing their rate to be roughly in line with Utah and Nebraska. Looking at 3rd quarter proposed rates we are still below Utah and Nebraska in our IFTA rates.

EDIT - I need to correct myself. Apparently a couple years after blinking Wyoming did raise their IFTA tax rates by about 70%. Still beneath Utah and Nebraska, but much more comparable. That may be why WYDOT hasn't been as vocal on their budget as before. Did it quietly, sorry for the derail.

Something interesting that's simmering is a proposed 65 mph max limit on tractor trailers. Not sure how they're thinking of enforcing it, but it could be an opportunity, if the actuaries work out, to defy the limit if it's passed and at the same time raise the tax. Could see a big jump in commercial traffic as well as revenue. Keep in mind, those trucks make stops too. And when they stop, they leave money...

Oh, absolutely, and when they stop there is lodging taxes if they stay at a hotel, and the money spent. I don't want it to come off as I have something against commercial trucks. I also don't think you will have commercial trucks operating without people in 10 years. You may have self driving trucks, but I think the biggest hurdles are ethics and liability, and those are going to require a person in the truck. My main point before I side tracked was that the argument of raise this tax and we will take 70 instead was as much a bluff as the wind companies are making right now about the wind severance tax in my opinion.

Just to be clear are you referring to a national max limit and Wyoming defying the limit?

[Wyovanian]

Making I-80 a toll road for trucks is an interesting idea. What other options do they have?

Don't need tolls. With the International Fuel Tax Agreement, commercial trucks (and please any truckers correct any details I may be off on) pay taxes on a quarterly basis from the office based on fuel use actually driven in each state. This avoids tax avoidance at the pump. Each state sets their rates, and Wyoming was talking about increasing their rate to be roughly in line with Utah and Nebraska. Looking at 3rd quarter proposed rates we are still below Utah and Nebraska in our IFTA rates.

EDIT - I need to correct myself. Apparently a couple years after blinking Wyoming did raise their IFTA tax rates by about 70%. Still beneath Utah and Nebraska, but much more comparable. That may be why WYDOT hasn't been as vocal on their budget as before. Did it quietly, sorry for the derail.

Something interesting that's simmering is a proposed 65 mph max limit on tractor trailers. Not sure how they're thinking of enforcing it, but it could be an opportunity, if the actuaries work out, to defy the limit if it's passed and at the same time raise the tax. Could see a big jump in commercial traffic as well as revenue. Keep in mind, those trucks make stops too. And when they stop, they leave money...

Not when they're driven by themselves in 10 years


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Still speculative at best. Besides, even if it does happen, what is there to lose in the meantime?

[Wyovanian]

Making I-80 a toll road for trucks is an interesting idea. What other options do they have?

Don't need tolls. With the International Fuel Tax Agreement, commercial trucks (and please any truckers correct any details I may be off on) pay taxes on a quarterly basis from the office based on fuel use actually driven in each state. This avoids tax avoidance at the pump. Each state sets their rates, and Wyoming was talking about increasing their rate to be roughly in line with Utah and Nebraska. Looking at 3rd quarter proposed rates we are still below Utah and Nebraska in our IFTA rates.

EDIT - I need to correct myself. Apparently a couple years after blinking Wyoming did raise their IFTA tax rates by about 70%. Still beneath Utah and Nebraska, but much more comparable. That may be why WYDOT hasn't been as vocal on their budget as before. Did it quietly, sorry for the derail.

Something interesting that's simmering is a proposed 65 mph max limit on tractor trailers. Not sure how they're thinking of enforcing it, but it could be an opportunity, if the actuaries work out, to defy the limit if it's passed and at the same time raise the tax. Could see a big jump in commercial traffic as well as revenue. Keep in mind, those trucks make stops too. And when they stop, they leave money...

Oh, absolutely, and when they stop there is lodging taxes if they stay at a hotel, and the money spent. I don't want it to come off as I have something against commercial trucks. I also don't think you will have commercial trucks operating without people in 10 years. You may have self driving trucks, but I think the biggest hurdles are ethics and liability, and those are going to require a person in the truck. My main point before I side tracked was that the argument of raise this tax and we will take 70 instead was as much a bluff as the wind companies are making right now about the wind severance tax in my opinion.

Just to be clear are you referring to a national max limit and Wyoming defying the limit?

Yes I am. SCOTUS clipped the Feds' wings a few years back insofar as their threats to withhold highway funds in order to coerce compliance. If the choice is I-70 at 65 or I-80 at 75, I guarantee the trucks will take 80 over 70. Most people don't realize it, but in the winter, 80 is generally considered a more reliable route than 70. Eisenhower Tunnel is a deal killer for a lot of trucking companies.

[Asmodeanreborn]

I think it's kind of disingenuous to blame Obama for the demise of coal rather than looking at the massive loans coal companies took out to make large expansions to deal with a predicted explosion in demand on the world market because of China and India. Problem was that instead China went a different route and started constructing nuclear and hydroelectric plants, so their reliance on coal has stayed roughly constant and is now starting to decrease, leading to coal companies undercutting each others' prices. On top of that, even with coal prices dropping, natural gas is now cheaper than coal in many places in the U.S. (Central App coal costs almost $19 per MWH generated, compared to $12-16 for east coast Natural Gas), and since it's also a cleaner power source, it's become a no-brainer for many states to start replacing coal with natural gas for power generation. With rapidly dropping demand and by consequence, dropping prices, the coal companies are now stuck with the loans and investments they made banking on higher prices and demand. As most of you know, if you take out a $300,000 mortgage on a house that's worth $250,000, and then the house starts rapidly falling in value while you're also forced to take a lower paying job, you're in deep doodoo.

Powder River Basin Coal has the benefit of being way cheaper to extract and use than coal extracted in other places in the U.S., so it's likely to survive longer - but is it really a healthy attitude to try and be the last man standing in a slowly but surely dying energy resource market? Even if clean energy regulations are rolled back, demand still isn't going to increase. China and India have been reaping the "rewards" (http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/arc ... 09592b.jpg) for not caring about clean air, and they're finally on track to deal with their carelessness. As a result, though, their reliance on coal will start falling rapidly and global market prices will continue trending down. What happens when Chinese coal mines (and China mines the most coal in the world) don't have a domestic market anymore? Some will close, obviously, but others will look at increasing exports instead... anyway, sorry about the ramble. I'm just a bit frustrated about the complaining of liberals being afraid of coal, when the market for coal is doing enough to strangle it all by itself

[LawPoke]

While Obama hasn't helped coal, lower natural gas prices have really kicked coal in the teeth...as has a flat demand curve for power. Beyond that, some bad decisions by some of the coal companies to acquire huge reserves right before the crash didn't help, as they incurred huge debt service obligations right at a time when demand went through the floor. While we free-market types all talk about how we should let markets work...sometimes the market knocks us onto our wallet.

Make no mistake, though, Obama and his policies have also served to distort the market to an extent. This said, I am sick of being a victim and always looking to blame someone else for our plight in Wyoming.

[Expat_Poke]

Wyovanian

I agree I-70 between being caked in deicer salt, moron drivers, mountain weather, and the fact some shipments aren't allowed through the tunnel (hello Loveland Pass) is a winter nightmare.

To bring this back to the first couple of posts, I think one thing not being discussed in this thread, is the growing sense that college costs are a bubble of sorts. Right now colleges are in a race for the best dorms, best campuses, best amenities. At what cost is this being done? Wyoming still remains somewhat reasonable $15,026 per year for instate $26,186 out of state that is with on campus room and board. CSU is $26,402 instate and $44,396 out of state. $44,000 to go to CSU? One thing we need to keep in mind, is at some point this crazy increase in college tuition is going to end, and then what? If you are relying on debt to build these facilities, cough new CSU stadium cough, that is asking for trouble in my opinion. So while UW should continue to improve our facilities and the state should continue to invest in UW, I think we should continue to do so in a financially smart manner. This is one thing UW has been doing well.

[SnowyRange]

o bring this back to the first couple of posts, I think one thing not being discussed in this thread, is the growing sense that college costs are a bubble of sorts. Right now colleges are in a race for the best dorms, best campuses, best amenities. At what cost is this being done? Wyoming still remains somewhat reasonable $15,026 per year for instate $26,186 out of state that is with on campus room and board. CSU is $26,402 instate and $44,396 out of state. $44,000 to go to CSU? One thing we need to keep in mind, is at some point this crazy increase in college tuition is going to end, and then what? If you are relying on debt to build these facilities, cough new CSU stadium cough, that is asking for trouble in my opinion. So while UW should continue to improve our facilities and the state should continue to invest in UW, I think we should continue to do so in a financially smart manner. This is one thing UW has been doing well.

Well said, and correct.

Colorado has basically turned CU and CSU into private universities. The WY state legislature is going to have to confront that with UW: does it want to relinquish control over UW (which it has to do if it cuts state funding to a minimal amount) and watch the cost of attending UW increase by 60-80%? Can UW even do that? Can this particular small state school survive when it rather suddenly starts charging those kind of market rates?

Those are the questions hovering over every smaller decision made over the next, say, five years. The answers to those questions affect everything, and have obvious relevance to athletics.

[Expat_Poke]

o bring this back to the first couple of posts, I think one thing not being discussed in this thread, is the growing sense that college costs are a bubble of sorts. Right now colleges are in a race for the best dorms, best campuses, best amenities. At what cost is this being done? Wyoming still remains somewhat reasonable $15,026 per year for instate $26,186 out of state that is with on campus room and board. CSU is $26,402 instate and $44,396 out of state. $44,000 to go to CSU? One thing we need to keep in mind, is at some point this crazy increase in college tuition is going to end, and then what? If you are relying on debt to build these facilities, cough new CSU stadium cough, that is asking for trouble in my opinion. So while UW should continue to improve our facilities and the state should continue to invest in UW, I think we should continue to do so in a financially smart manner. This is one thing UW has been doing well.

Well said, and correct.

Colorado has basically turned CU and CSU into private universities. The WY state legislature is going to have to confront that with UW: does it want to relinquish control over UW (which it has to do if it cuts state funding to a minimal amount) and watch the cost of attending UW increase by 60-80%? Can UW even do that? Can this particular small state school survive when it rather suddenly starts charging those kind of market rates?

Those are the questions hovering over every smaller decision made over the next, say, five years. The answers to those questions affect everything, and have obvious relevance to athletics.

Well per the Wyoming State Constitution tuition is supposed to be "nearly free as possible". You are right in regards to Colorado. During my Denver days, out of all my coworkers with college aged kids, none went to CSU or CU-Boulder. They were mixed between UNC-Greeley, CU-Denver, CU-Colorado Springs, the various community colleges along the front range, and a couple in some of the smaller west slope colleges.

It isn't just Colorado, unless you are from an alumni family or you got crazy good grades good luck affording going to UM or MSU in Michigan. Too many land grant universities have lost sight over what they are supposed to be, affordable places to get a quality education for the people of that state.

Given the political talks about this, the bursting may be coming sooner rather than later. I think if UW can get through this tuition bubble and keep tuition low, UW will be in a good, competitive spot. Between the skyrocketing tuition and football financial landscape changes it will be interesting to see how the next 5-10 years shake out.

[WyoBrandX]

Making I-80 a toll road for trucks is an interesting idea. What other options do they have?

Don't need tolls. With the International Fuel Tax Agreement, commercial trucks (and please any truckers correct any details I may be off on) pay taxes on a quarterly basis from the office based on fuel use actually driven in each state. This avoids tax avoidance at the pump. Each state sets their rates, and Wyoming was talking about increasing their rate to be roughly in line with Utah and Nebraska. Looking at 3rd quarter proposed rates we are still below Utah and Nebraska in our IFTA rates.

EDIT - I need to correct myself. Apparently a couple years after blinking Wyoming did raise their IFTA tax rates by about 70%. Still beneath Utah and Nebraska, but much more comparable. That may be why WYDOT hasn't been as vocal on their budget as before. Did it quietly, sorry for the derail.

Something interesting that's simmering is a proposed 65 mph max limit on tractor trailers. Not sure how they're thinking of enforcing it, but it could be an opportunity, if the actuaries work out, to defy the limit if it's passed and at the same time raise the tax. Could see a big jump in commercial traffic as well as revenue. Keep in mind, those trucks make stops too. And when they stop, they leave money...

I helped derail this thread. I might as well push it along a bit further.

In my trips to Montana recently, they have reduced the speedlimit on trucks to 65 in the day and 55 at night. I don't know how they enforce it. I do enjoy driving Montana's I90 much more than Wyoming's I90/I25 as a result.

They should try it out. Hell, they should restrict trucks to the right lane only when weather is bad. I80 can be flat out scary in the winter. I've had way too many close calls over the years - it was nearly always the trucks too.

[WyoBrandX]

Does anyone understand the coal to methanol conversion process? That has been something I've been interested in for a while. My understanding is you lose some of the nasty parts of coal by turning it into methanol. Then you can use it for an ethanol replacement. If any of that is true, it could be an interesting future for coal.

[McPeachy]

Just an FYI...demand for Wyoming coal has grown as of late. Double what it was in June...still not to the level it was a few years ago, but growing. And guess what, there is now a staffing issue.

[Wyovanian]

o bring this back to the first couple of posts, I think one thing not being discussed in this thread, is the growing sense that college costs are a bubble of sorts. Right now colleges are in a race for the best dorms, best campuses, best amenities. At what cost is this being done? Wyoming still remains somewhat reasonable $15,026 per year for instate $26,186 out of state that is with on campus room and board. CSU is $26,402 instate and $44,396 out of state. $44,000 to go to CSU? One thing we need to keep in mind, is at some point this crazy increase in college tuition is going to end, and then what? If you are relying on debt to build these facilities, cough new CSU stadium cough, that is asking for trouble in my opinion. So while UW should continue to improve our facilities and the state should continue to invest in UW, I think we should continue to do so in a financially smart manner. This is one thing UW has been doing well.

Well said, and correct.

Colorado has basically turned CU and CSU into private universities. The WY state legislature is going to have to confront that with UW: does it want to relinquish control over UW (which it has to do if it cuts state funding to a minimal amount) and watch the cost of attending UW increase by 60-80%? Can UW even do that? Can this particular small state school survive when it rather suddenly starts charging those kind of market rates?

Those are the questions hovering over every smaller decision made over the next, say, five years. The answers to those questions affect everything, and have obvious relevance to athletics.

Well per the Wyoming State Constitution tuition is supposed to be "nearly free as possible". You are right in regards to Colorado. During my Denver days, out of all my coworkers with college aged kids, none went to CSU or CU-Boulder. They were mixed between UNC-Greeley, CU-Denver, CU-Colorado Springs, the various community colleges along the front range, and a couple in some of the smaller west slope colleges.

It isn't just Colorado, unless you are from an alumni family or you got crazy good grades good luck affording going to UM or MSU in Michigan. Too many land grant universities have lost sight over what they are supposed to be, affordable places to get a quality education for the people of that state.

Given the political talks about this, the bursting may be coming sooner rather than later. I think if UW can get through this tuition bubble and keep tuition low, UW will be in a good, competitive spot. Between the skyrocketing tuition and football financial landscape changes it will be interesting to see how the next 5-10 years shake out.

If anything about promises of "free college" come about, watch those costs skyrocket...

[Asmodeanreborn]

Just an FYI...demand for Wyoming coal has grown as of late. Double what it was in June...still not to the level it was a few years ago, but growing. And guess what, there is now a staffing issue.

Yeah, main reason is that other mines have been shutting down while Wyoming coal still is as cheap as it is (cheaper than natural gas, unlike most other coal sources).

I think the main thing people have been pointing out is that things are still trending down long term.

[Cowboy Junky]

The big issue is the economic climate that makes banks less likely to invest in or loan money that supports coal. That's the problem.

[laxwyo]

o bring this back to the first couple of posts, I think one thing not being discussed in this thread, is the growing sense that college costs are a bubble of sorts. Right now colleges are in a race for the best dorms, best campuses, best amenities. At what cost is this being done? Wyoming still remains somewhat reasonable $15,026 per year for instate $26,186 out of state that is with on campus room and board. CSU is $26,402 instate and $44,396 out of state. $44,000 to go to CSU? One thing we need to keep in mind, is at some point this crazy increase in college tuition is going to end, and then what? If you are relying on debt to build these facilities, cough new CSU stadium cough, that is asking for trouble in my opinion. So while UW should continue to improve our facilities and the state should continue to invest in UW, I think we should continue to do so in a financially smart manner. This is one thing UW has been doing well.

Well said, and correct.

Colorado has basically turned CU and CSU into private universities. The WY state legislature is going to have to confront that with UW: does it want to relinquish control over UW (which it has to do if it cuts state funding to a minimal amount) and watch the cost of attending UW increase by 60-80%? Can UW even do that? Can this particular small state school survive when it rather suddenly starts charging those kind of market rates?

Those are the questions hovering over every smaller decision made over the next, say, five years. The answers to those questions affect everything, and have obvious relevance to athletics.

Well per the Wyoming State Constitution tuition is supposed to be "nearly free as possible". You are right in regards to Colorado. During my Denver days, out of all my coworkers with college aged kids, none went to CSU or CU-Boulder. They were mixed between UNC-Greeley, CU-Denver, CU-Colorado Springs, the various community colleges along the front range, and a couple in some of the smaller west slope colleges.

It isn't just Colorado, unless you are from an alumni family or you got crazy good grades good luck affording going to UM or MSU in Michigan. Too many land grant universities have lost sight over what they are supposed to be, affordable places to get a quality education for the people of that state.

Given the political talks about this, the bursting may be coming sooner rather than later. I think if UW can get through this tuition bubble and keep tuition low, UW will be in a good, competitive spot. Between the skyrocketing tuition and football financial landscape changes it will be interesting to see how the next 5-10 years shake out.

If anything about promises of "free college" come about, watch those costs skyrocket...

Spot on. Rising cost of college has been directly related to the increase in financial aid.


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