Tax Reform – Better Wyoming

Session recap: Harrison Ford and other needy Wyoming seniors receive property tax relief

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 »

Capitol Dispatches, FEATURED, Tax Reform

Session preview: Somehow, some way, Wyo. property tax relief is coming

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 »

FEATURED, Tax Reform

Session recap: Relief and reform for rising Wyo. property taxes

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.

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2023 General Session, Capitol Dispatches, FEATURED, Tax Reform

Want to slow Wyo’s boom-and-bust cycle? Tax Jackson.

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 »

FEATURED, Tax Reform

Wyoming’s laws invite dirty money with no benefit to state residents

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 »

FEATURED, Tax Reform

Wyoming Legislature continues its quest to punish renewable energy

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 »

2021 General Session, Capitol Dispatches, Climate, FEATURED, Tax Reform

Screw the schools, screw the youth: Wyoming lawmakers refuse tax proposals to fund education (and everything else)

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.

Screw the schools, screw the youth: Wyoming lawmakers refuse tax proposals to fund education (and everything else) Read More »

Education Funding, FEATURED, Tax Reform

Wyoming faces the biggest financial crisis in its modern history. Lawmakers respond by doing nothing.

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.

Wyoming faces the biggest financial crisis in its modern history. Lawmakers respond by doing nothing. Read More »

FEATURED, Tax Reform

Legislature passes a bill making it easier for Wyoming communities to tax themselves

The increased ability for towns and counties to raise revenues is a nod toward diversifying Wyoming’s tax structure. But because the new revenues will come from sales tax, they will come at the highest cost to the state’s poorest residents.

Legislature passes a bill making it easier for Wyoming communities to tax themselves Read More »

2020 Budget Session, Capitol Dispatches, FEATURED, Tax Reform

Four ways to cut school funding: House and Senate at odds as education budget negotiations begin

The Senate is proposing nearly $40 million less than the House for the state education budget, looking to cut funding for cost-of-living raises, transportation, discretionary funds, and compensation for National Board Certified teachers.

Four ways to cut school funding: House and Senate at odds as education budget negotiations begin Read More »

2020 Budget Session, Capitol Dispatches, Education Funding, Tax Reform