WEDNESDAY, October 14, 2026|
Photo – Vote Here sign in Encampment – Bigfoot99 file photo
County officials advised residents to fully understand what their property taxes support prior to November’s election.
This November, Wyoming voters will decide on Proposition One, a citizen‑initiated measure to create a 50 percent property‑tax exemption. If passed, qualifying homeowners who have lived in the state for one year will receive a 50 percent reduction to their primary residences’ assessed value. Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray estimates that the exemption will reduce state revenue by $92.6 million in 2028 and $95.8 million the following fiscal year.
Speaking at the October 6th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Sue Jones warned the public to be fully aware of what Proposition One will do to the county’s budget before voting.
Residential property taxes are assessed locally and returned to the entities where they were collected. Seventy percent of that revenue goes directly to schools. Eighteen percent is directed to the county itself, special districts receive eight percent, and municipalities collect two percent. The county’s portion is used to pay for essential services, such as law enforcement, EMS, and road maintenance. Further cuts will result in less money for nonessential services, including libraries, senior centers, and museums.
At the October 6th meeting, Commissioner Jones said the projected $92.6 million loss reflects only what the state would lose in school funding if Proposition One passes. She said local governments are expected to see an even greater drop in revenue.
Commissioner Jones added that the state legislature has not proposed a way to fully reimburse local governments for the lost property‑tax revenue. Instead, lawmakers have suggested a two percent statewide sales‑tax increase. She said the sales tax would go directly to the state, requiring counties to request their allocations, which she noted still would not cover the lost property‑tax revenue.
She said the extra two percent sales tax will affect more residents than property taxes, adding that the higher rate would leave Carbon County collecting eight percent in sales taxes. She said more information about Proposition One and its effect on local governments can be found online.
The 50 percent residential homeowner property‑tax exemption will appear on the November 7th ballot. A simple majority is required for Proposition One to pass.
