Dear editor:
Wyoming has abundant natural organic wealth i.e. oil, coal, gas, and minerals. The government is our agent to sell those minerals to pay the bills for the benefit of the people. The mineral rights might belong to the government but the government belongs to us.
The largest industry in Wyoming by GDP contribution is mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction. This sector is a major driver of our economy.
In 2023, it added $ 6.49 billion U.S. dollars to the state's real GDP. It was followed by real estate, rental, and leasing ($5.1B). In 2024, tourism contributed $4.9 billion. We have over $30 billion in reserves. Our bi-annum budget is around $14 billion or $7 billion a year.
Why are we paying any residential property taxes?
Now Residential Property taxes are being artificially inflated by Department of Revenue, the county commissioners, and the tax assessors to make up for the anticipated loss of revenue from the 25% tax cut.
Do you see any spending cuts?
In this last session the 50% tax cut bill started out a 50/50 split, people/ government. Then the legislature took an extra 25% for government. They get 75 cents of every dollar and left us, the people, with 25 cents in our wallet. How generous of them.
Residential property tax total is around $300 million according to Department of Revenue.
Last year at a state Republican quarterly meeting Treasurer Meier said we the people have to pay more taxes, so the state has more savings, so we pay less taxes. Really?
Now on April 24th cometh State Treasurer Curt Meier who stated he has plans to use $1 billion to $1.5 billion of the state’s investment earnings to bring more manufacturing to Wyoming. Where is our cut in taxes?
The people ran a citizens ballot initiative to lower residential property tax 50% that will be on the 2026 ballot. Who lobbied against it and who lobbied for it?
Did the legislature, county commissioners, treasurers, tax assessors, or the governor go to the microphone and encourage the people to sign the petition. Nope.
They lobbied against the ballot initiative. The only ones that have gotten pay raises and benefit increases since COVID is the government.
The Tax Assessors Association, the Commissioners Associations, Treasurers, Wyoming Association of Municipalities Associations all lobbied against the peoples 50% initiative last year and against the 25% cut this year. Why?
The taxpayer pays over $5 million for these associations and they are not part of government. The people have no association. It is supposed to be our legislature but it is not.
The legislature can override vetoes, change the judiciary, make law. Five hundred bills were submitted, 190 processed, 175 passed that is proof both chambers can get along if they want to. We got a shooting range, new color license plates, and millions went to fake climate change.
Elections matter. 2026 can’t get here fast enough. People must come first not government. .
God Bless.
Richard R Weber
Story, Wyoming
