By Dale Bohren
There are philosophical reasons I’m voting against the Freedom Caucus sponsored Proposition 1 property tax cut. I hope you will vote against it too. Here is why:
It’s natural to want to pay less tax. I certainly don’t want to pay more tax. But I also want the services these taxes fund. Some say they don’t really own their home if they have to pay property taxes. But they probably pay the plumber and house painters when they provide a service. It’s the same thing for a road to your house, water infrastructure, or fire department protection. Property taxes are, in part, how we collectively pay for services and infrastructure we likely could not afford to pay for by ourselves.
If we cut property taxes that fund services we actually want or need, how do you think we’ll pay the bill? Can you imagine higher sales taxes or a personal income tax? I can. I bet the public servants elected to solve our problems and provide public services will as well.
Stiffer sales taxes and a personal income tax in Wyoming? Impossible. But how many impossible things have happened in just the last year or two? It’s not impossible.
Renters, you will pay the higher sales taxes or personal income taxes if they are imposed. But do not expect your rent to go down because rental properties aren’t included in the Proposition 1 referendum that will be voted on Nov. 3. This is a terrible deal for tenants; it will be the most expensive tax cut you will ever experience.
At the bottom line, Wyoming residential property taxes are low in comparison to other states, and we need the services they fund. Some 46% of property taxes fund K-12 education and 4% go to Wyoming’s eight community colleges. Full disclosure, I was elected and serve on the Casper College Board of Trustees. I ran because I believe community colleges represent the future for many people. Education is often how a community improves itself, whether providing training to work in healthcare, emergency service, as an electrician, in the arts, as an engineer, or the business of running a business. Whether you get an education yourself or benefit from someone else who did, the positive impact of a community college can be generational on a community. We want that, right?
Our city, surrounding towns, county and the state all receive a portion of the money. So do special districts, which include some services provided by the senior center, rural water and sewer districts, and weed and pest services. These are not at all sexy but consider for a moment if these services were not provided.
The Domino Effect of Proposition 1 would affect each of us. For example, this tax funds Casper Mountain and County Fire services. If those departments are not operational, insurance companies, who already consider distance to a fire department when they issue policies, won’t insure your property. And without insurance, your mortgage company may call your loan. Or worse, not issue a mortgage to your kids. Then everybody's costs go up. At that point, our already low property tax will seem like the good deal I think it is.
Dale Bohren is publisher emeritus of the Casper Star-Tribune.
