Youth mental health issues are on the rise, but the Legislature does not allocate money to fully staff schools with counselors. A judge has ruled that the state must fund mental health professionals for schools, but the Freedom Caucus is looking for ways to defund public education instead.
“INTERIM” SPOTLIGHT: K-12 MENTAL HEALTH Read More »
Rising home values have driven up property tax costs for homeowners. The Legislature has cut property taxes over the past two years, and local public services are being defunded as a result. Still, politicians have latched on to property taxes as a campaign issue and are pushing further cuts … consequences be damned.
“INTERIM” SPOTLIGHT: PROPERTY TAXES Read More »
Wyoming legislators wanted to give property tax relief to seniors on fixed incomes, but gray-haired lawmakers couldn’t help giving a bit of relief to themselves—despite the Baby Boomer generation being the richest in history.
Fortunately, other successful property tax proposals this session were more thought-out.
Session recap: Harrison Ford and other needy Wyoming seniors receive property tax relief Read More »
Although Wyoming has among the nation’s lowest property tax rates, sharp increases in home values have driven up tax bills to the point where relief has become politically unavoidable. Will the Legislature manage to enact it without gutting funding for public services or giving the state’s ultra-wealthy residents an undue handout?
Session preview: Somehow, some way, Wyo. property tax relief is coming Read More »
Rising home values have increased Wyoming property tax bills. The Legislature responded with targeted relief that will benefit nearly 10,000 households while untangling complicated issues with the state’s tax structure to allow for further reforms. They managed this while avoiding the slash-and-burn approach favored by the Freedom Caucus that would have gutted funding for local towns and counties.
Session recap: Relief and reform for rising Wyo. property taxes Read More »
Diversifying Wyoming’s economy will require diversifying its tax base. While raising taxes on average residents is a political non-starter, a new report shows Wyoming can significantly broaden its tax base by focusing on luxury real estate and the ultra-rich.
Want to slow Wyo’s boom-and-bust cycle? Tax Jackson. Read More »
Russian oligarchs and other bad actors take advantage of Wyoming’s lax laws governing trusts and LLCs to hide their fortunes here. What do we get for acting as a global dirty money laundromat? Not much.
Wyoming’s laws invite dirty money with no benefit to state residents Read More »
Want to hurt businesses? Create an environment of uncertainty. That’s the plan for Wyoming lawmakers intent on kneecapping our wind and solar industries.
Wyoming Legislature continues its quest to punish renewable energy Read More »
Wyoming’s population is shrinking and aging, and the Good Ol’ Boys in the Legislature staunchly oppose new taxes. But younger generations who would like to build their lives here are starting to speak up against budget cuts that would cripple the state’s education system and economy.
The Legislature’s Revenue Committee has one job: to develop proposals that allow Wyoming to adequately fund its public services and infrastructure. Now that fossil fuel mining taxes are going away, the committee has failed at its single job again and again and again.
