October 4, 2024 |
Photo – Increasing property taxes – Courtesy propertyrecord.com
Carbon County officials are meeting with residents to explain recent property tax changes.
Any homeowner knows that personal property taxes in Wyoming have risen dramatically over the past year. The bill can be a shock. The increase is blamed on the influx of new people to area who paid above market price for their homes in their escape from bigger cities. Unfortunately, the higher home prices have driven up property taxes for all Wyoming residents, many of whom are under-prepared to pay the shockingly high new rate.
At Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, County Treasurer Lindsey West said she and Assessor Renee Snider will hold a series of public meetings to discuss the property tax changes.
With their recent property tax assessments, Carbon County residents also received a flyer with information about House Bill Three: the property tax exemption for long-term homeowners.
Speaking at the September 17th County Commissioner meeting in Baggs, County Assessor Snider explained that the bill provides a 50% property tax reduction for residents who meet specific requirements.
Any land over 35 acres will still be assessed at full value.
A pie chart was also included with the recent property tax assessments showing how the tax money is spent. At Tuesday’s county commissioner meeting, Commission Chairwoman Sue Jones said the chart clearly shows residents that most of their tax dollars goes to education and not county projects.
The first community meeting on property valuation, taxes, and relief is scheduled for this Monday, October 7th, at the Jeffery Center in Rawlins. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 9th, at the Encampment Opera House.
The following week, on Thursday, October 17th, county tax assessors will be at the Platte Valley Community Center in Saratoga. The next meeting is on Monday, October 21st, in the Little Snake River Valley Community Center in Baggs.
The final meeting will be held at the HEM High School in Hanna on Wednesday, October 23rd. All meetings begin at 6:00 pm. Applications for the long-term home owners tax exemption will also be available.
Treasurer West encouraged all residents to attend the meetings to learn about determination of property values and the available tax relief programs.
For more information about any of the upcoming community meetings on property valuation, taxes, and relief, contact the Carbon County Treasurer’s Office at 328-2631 or the County Assessor’s Office at 328-2637.
