Monday, January 19, 2026 |
Photo – HD 47 Representative Bob Davis – Courtesy Wyoming State Legislature
Representative Bob Davis visited his district to hear issues that should be heard at the state capital.
Representative Bob Davis of Baggs serves Carbon and Sweetwater Counties in Wyoming’s House District 47, an area larger than the state of Maryland. This month, Representative Davis traveled around his district to ask for feedback on the upcoming legislative session.
After a stop in Encampment, Representative Davis went to northern Carbon County. Speaking at the January 12th Medicine Bow Town Council meeting, the District 47 representative requested guidance from the governing body.
Mayor Justin George expressed concern about the effect recent statewide property tax reductions have had on local government. Mayor George said the reduced funding has created a snowball effect, making it more difficult for towns to provide essential services for residents.
Representative Davis agreed that the state’s recent property tax cuts were not well thought out. He said Wyoming’s system of government was built with property taxes in mind.
In 2023, Wyoming voters approved a constitutional amendment aimed at easing the impact COVID‑related migration had on home values. The amendment separated residential property taxes from commercial and agricultural property, allowing the legislature to adjust residential property taxes independently of the other classes.
Speaking to the Medicine Bow Town Council, Representative Davis said the legislature has squandered the opportunity, instead, choosing to institute more drastic cuts, such as the 25 percent reduction for all residential properties implemented this fiscal year.
Councilman Lee Cook said he appreciates living in a state without an income tax. Councilman Cook added that serving in elected office has given him a clearer understanding of how tax dollars are used and said the state should not further reduce property taxes.
Representative Davis said most of his constituents feel the same way. No one wants to pay property taxes, he said, but they view it as a necessary cost of maintaining and improving society. With the third lowest property taxes in the nation, Representative Davis said the issue should have been addressed on a case-by-case basis, not through sweeping statewide legislation.
Councilwoman Kristi Wickizer said she supports property taxes, but opposes taxing unrecognized gains, or the proposed increase in a home’s value should it sell. Councilwoman Wickizer said her property is not worth what the county claims it is.
Representative Davis said counties should take the lead in reducing property taxes by lowering the tax rate applied to a property’s assessed value, called mill levies. He added that only two counties in Wyoming have adjusted their mill levies to ease the property‑tax burden on residents.
Mayor George said lawmakers passed the property‑tax relief measures without fully understanding their effect on local governments. The mayor added that he believed Carbon County was left out of the discussion, which has hurt the county’s ability to provide essential services to residents.
A similar discussion took place in Hanna the following evening. During the January 13th Hanna Town Council meeting, Representative Davis again asked for guidance ahead of the upcoming legislative session. Councilman David Felix said the state must find a way to reimburse local governments for lost property tax revenue.
Another constitutional amendment, this one proposing to eliminate residential property taxes entirely, will appear on this year’s ballot. If it passes, state lawmakers plan to raise the sales tax by two percent to help offset the lost revenue. Representative Davis said communities with limited commercial activity, such as Hanna, will see little of the additional sales‑tax funds. The legislature will need to reevaluate how those funds are distributed to ensure smaller towns are properly supported.
The Hanna Town Council suggested several ways to increase tax revenue, including making Interstate 80 a toll road or raising the state fuel tax. Representative Davis added that a state income tax is not under consideration.
The conversation turned to the federal Rural Health Transformation Program. The Hanna Town Council asked Representative Davis to ensure the $205 million earmarked for rural healthcare reaches underserved communities rather than being absorbed by larger municipalities.
Representative Davis said he will take his constituents’ concerns into full consideration during the upcoming House budget session.
