As the Northern Wyoming Community College District gets more and more in the black financially, the question looms as to when will athletics return.

As part of its $4.2 million budget cuts made last school year due to the covid pandemic, the athletic department, except for rodeo, ended up being cut by the district.

If things go smoothly this school year, the district could have a $1.3 million surplus.

District President Doctor Walter Tribley says there are many other factors that must weigh in for athletics to be brought back, one of them being the issue of Gillette College possibly separating from the district.

He adds it’s possible that at the start of the 2023-24 school year he will provide a recommendation to the Board of Trustees to bring athletics back, along with some new programs, but another issue to consider is what will the district get financially from the state legislature.

“That year is very very important. We’ll be in the next biennium, we’ll see what cuts, if any, we’re getting from the state, so very importantly to me, we’re in the black right now, but what we’re also doing is thinking about investing in new programs that will drive revenue. These next few years will be a period of time where we’re adding some programs with the idea of providing more opportunities for our students and our community and driving revenue.”

The Gillette College issue will be decided by Campbell County voters on Tuesday of next week (August 17th).