Laramie County could lose $7.6 million from proposed property tax cuts
CHEYENNE — As the Wyoming Legislature continues to push for more residential property tax cuts, municipalities and counties are concerned about what that could mean for them.
Last week, Laramie County employees received an email stating the county will face a $7.6 million shortage if Senate File 69 is approved as introduced. The email was in response to concerns that the county would be forced to eliminate 60 county positions if the legislation is signed into law without any revenue backfill from the state.
While it is true that the county would have to shave some expenses if property taxes are cut, that does not necessarily mean it would solely be through eliminating positions, according to the email.
Laramie County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Gunnar Malm said the conversation would be ongoing as government officials compile their budget in the coming months. He said he hopes to limit any reduction in current staffing.
Wyoming law enforcement officials concerned about property tax cuts
Local sheriff departments and fire departments across Wyoming are at risk of losing a significant amount of funding this year as the Wyoming Legislature considers further property tax cuts. This week, WTE reporter Ivy Secrest shares her conversation with Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak and Laramie County Fire Authority Chief Jason Caughey on the issue.\n\nStick around to hear a recap of local headlines and happenings at the Wyoming Capitol over the past week, as well as a preview of upcoming local events.\n\nNew episodes published every Friday.\n\nProvide feedback or suggestions to news@wyomingnews.com.
'There will certainly be impacts, but our intention and goal will be to figure out how to still provide all the vital services that not only state statute requires, but that our residents require, and do so within the budget that is presented with whatever reduction comes from property taxes,' Malm told the WTE.
SF 69 would create a statewide residential property tax cut of 50% on single-family primary residences valued at up to $1 million.
Proponents say it is intended to ease the financial tax burden on Wyoming property owners, who have asked for such relief.
The bill would also give exemptions for business property owners, Malm said. He said this could result in a couple million more in lost county revenue due to the economic drivers in Laramie County, including oil and gas and data centers.
Property tax revenue in Wyoming goes to counties, municipalities and special districts to fund services like law enforcement, hospitals and infrastructure, as well as K-12 education.
Malm said the impact of this bill may be more heavily realized in smaller communities and counties.
'What this means for the town of Albin, town of Pine Bluffs, Burns, our fire districts, those things, they rely upon property taxes. They're not supplemented from the county budget at all,' Malm said.
'Those are standalone entities that collect tax revenue through mills and property taxes. They don't have the revenue base to draw from to weather what could potentially come, and so that is my fear is what this means for small-town Wyoming.'
He added that reduced fire suppression services could also mean residents face more difficulties and expenses when seeking insurance coverage for their property.
The House amended the bill to apply tax relief on a county-by-county basis to ease concerns from those who run services funded by property taxes. On Wednesday, however, the House voted to remove that amendment on third reading, returning it to a statewide, 50% assessment reduction for residential structures up to $1 million in value. It does now contain $200 million worth of backfill, however.
'I would just ask us to take a more cautious and holistic approach looking at it than a one-size-fits-all property tax cut across the board,' Malm said.
However, Malm did acknowledge the need to ease the financial burden on some Wyoming residents paying property taxes.
'I think that there is a certain need for property tax relief. I think residents see that and have requested that. I think that the issue comes when we do a wholesale property tax cut. Does every resident need one? I don't know,' he said. 'I personally don't feel that I need a property tax cut. I feel that I get a lot of services for the property taxes I pay.'
He added that he would rather see the previous property tax reduction programs approved by the Legislature play out before moving forward with a bill like SF 69.
Molly Bennett is the head of Laramie County Public Works. The services in her department are not specifically funded by property taxes, but she worries how it may still impact Public Works.
'Just given the impact that this could have ... I think everybody, at some level, is worried, right? It's hard not to be just because of what could happen,' Bennett said. 'At the same time, we don't have any facts yet on what that's going to look like, so it's really difficult to jump the gun and make some assumptions there without really knowing how it's going to all play out.'
Ultimately, if property taxes are cut, the county commissioners will decide which services or positions will also be cut when they are assembling their annual budget for the next fiscal year.
Other local service providers, like the Laramie County Sheriff's Office and the Laramie County Fire Authority, have expressed opposition to the legislation due to fears of potentially cutting staff and services, as well.
House Bill 169 proposes identical cuts, but the House measure also provides a $125 million 'backfill' to reimburse local governments for revenue lost to property tax cuts.
Malm said a backfill would be helpful, but it would create issues of using state dollars to fund local governments and services.
'When we start using state funds to backfill and supplant income that local governments rely on from the income sources we're allowed, it isn't a sustainable solution,' he said. 'The state has its own host of responsibilities and costs, and so to think that we could have an ongoing kind of backfill from the state of Wyoming is not something I'm willing to bet my life on, or even hedge on, because I don't think it's a realistic long-term solution.'
HB 169 was introduced to the Senate on Thursday and referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee. No committee hearings on the bill have been scheduled.
Senators refused to concur with House changes to SF 69 on Thursday, so the bill will next go to a joint conference committee to try to work out differences between the two chambers.
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