Dear editor,
I like knowing that I have a great police force and dedicated firemen for my town. I like seeing the street get repaired, repaved, and plowed.
I like knowing that Wyoming has good schools like the ones my son went to - giving him a good education, so now he has a good career. I like having parks and recreation available to all of us. I like going to the library and knowing that people all over Wyoming can go to their libraries too.
I don’t want to see all those services, and more, shrink. I don't want to see counties shutting down branch libraries because they don't have the money - as has already happened.
I don't like thinking that police might get defunded. I don’t want to wonder if there are enough firemen or if they are well paid. I don’t want to see schools having to cut teacher salaries or expand classroom size or cut arts and music. I don't like seeing our parks get shaggy because they're not mowed – as has already happened.
So I pay my property taxes like everyone else. And I don’t want to see property taxes cut. People who can’t pay property taxes have gotten help from the state legislature already.
Property taxes are much lower in Wyoming than in many, many other states. Cutting property taxes across-the-board is taking an axe to an important piece of what makes it good to live and work here.
Wyoming people are working people. Working people need functional streets, law enforcement, fire protection, schools and libraries.
The Legislature’s Revenue Committee is launching a new round of property tax cuts.
They say not to worry – they have a plan for how there will still be money for what we need, even though mineral revenues are dropping and major property tax cuts will leave our counties and towns with nothing but sales tax revenue to rely on (sales tax that hits working people hardest, and would have to double to make up for lost property tax).
Still, they keep saying they have a plan.
I don’t believe it. I don’t believe they have a plan.
I don’t believe the majority of the Wyoming Legislature cares any longer about local control, local investment, local support by local government in what we in Wyoming need.
Prove me wrong, legislators. Don’t cut property taxes.
Support important revenue to keep state and local government revenue whole and keep the services we all value.
Anne MacKinnon, Casper
