MARCH 14, 2025|
Photo – Carbon County’s official seal – Bigfoot99 file photo
State-wide property tax relief passed by the Wyoming Legislature this year has county officials worried about the impacts on funding the local budget.
Governor Mark Gordon signed Senate File 69 into law on March 4th. At its core, Homeowner Property Tax Exemption bill provides a 25% reduction in property taxes for all single-family residential homes and their associated lands, applicable to the first $1 million of the property’s value.
On the same day, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners met for their regular bi-monthly meeting. Road and Bridge Superintendent Kandis Fritz expressed concern over how the reduction in property taxes included in Senate File 69 will impact her department’s budget. Fritz asked the board if she should still request contractor bids for the anti-dust chemical, magnesium chloride.
The Road and Bridge Superintendent said her department may be unable to afford to apply magnesium chloride to county roads, despite her positive view of the chemical’s use as a binder on dirt roads.
Fritz said she’s already exhausted her magnesium chloride budget for this fiscal year. Although she has money in reserve, Fritz said she expects the board to ask her to refrain from spending it due to the upcoming tax cuts.
Documentation provided by the Board of Carbon County Commissioners shows, based on tax figures from 2024, the county government is set to lose nearly $415,000 in residential property taxes as a result of Senate File 69 and other property tax relief measures.
Commissioner Sue Jones said, despite the loss in revenue, the county is still obligated to serve the taxpayers, which includes applying magnesium chloride whenever possible.
The board instructed Superintendent Fritz to request bids for magnesium chloride, with the added stipulation that the number of roads to be covered may change depending on the property tax revenue the county receives in the upcoming fiscal year.
Commissioner John Johnson asked for a detailed breakdown of how the state’s property tax relief bill will affect Carbon County as a whole. Commissioner Sue Jones explained that in total, all county entities that rely on property taxes are set to lose more than $3,694,000. Commissioner Jones said schools, especially those located in smaller towns, will be hit the hardest by the reduction in tax revenue.
Additionally, Commissioner Jones said the county’s special districts will lose approximately $728,000, combined.
Documents provided by the board indicate, based on 2024 tax figures, Weed and Pest will see a $34,500 reduction in property tax revenue. The Carbon County Fire Protection is projected to lose nearly as much, with a decrease of $33,200 in the next fiscal year.
Municipalities are not immune from the property tax cuts. The City of Rawlins is estimated to lose nearly $108,000, while Saratoga is likely to see a $43,000 reduction in property tax revenue.
The Board of Carbon County Commissioners suggested state lawmakers may not fully understand the effects property tax relief measures will have on local government budgets and essential services.
