November 20, 2023 |
Photo – Governor Mark Gordon – Bigfoot99 file photo
Governor Mark Gordon, on Friday, released a two-year state budget proposal ahead of next year’s legislative session.
In developing the budget numbers, the Governor aimed to balance ongoing challenges against targeted investments while maintaining spending levels for state agencies. With the post-COVID federal funding spree ending, the task of securing Wyoming’s fiscal future was no easy task.
The Governor’s proposal places surplus revenues into savings and provides $20 million to expand the Property Tax Refund Program.
The Governor proposes allocating funding to address the changes affecting Wyoming’s energy industry, programs to support workforce development and economic diversification and addressing the state’s mental health crisis. Investments include:
- $20 million to expand the Property Tax Refund program to provide additional targeted relief to Wyoming homeowners.
- Funding for community mental health centers and mental health providers for youth, as well as expanding the 988-suicide prevention hotline to provide text and chat services.
- Continued support for the expansion of the Wyoming Innovation Partnership to enhance the workforce in support of economic development.
- Increased spending authority for the Federal Natural Resources Planning Account (FNRPA) to defend Wyoming interests in court.
Governor Gordon said he also intends to maintain the state’s position as a global leader in energy and natural resources through investments. “Steady at the helm” may be the best way to describe the budget.
The Governor’s budget message and full budget may be found on the State Budget Department’s webpage. He will present his 2025/26 budget to the Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee on December 12.
