Wednesday, AUGUST 13, 2025 |
Photo – Medicine Bow Welcome sign – Courtesy Town of Medicine Bow
Medicine Bow officials chose to delay additional funding for the local library until budget errors are resolved.
In March, the state legislature passed several property tax relief bills, including Senate File 69, which gives all Wyoming homeowners a 25% tax cut on the first $1 million of assessed residential property value. The measures aim to offset rising home prices driven by COVID-related migration to the Cowboy State.
Carbon County relies on property tax revenue to provide financial assistance to outside agencies, such as museums and senior centers. County officials calculated that the tax relief bills reduced funding for those outside agencies by nearly $500,000 this fiscal year.
The Carbon County Library System lost 53% of its annual budget, going from $350,972 last year to $164,462 in 2025. Library Board members have warned residents of possible reductions to branch hours or even closures in response to the budget cuts. Members of the Carbon County Library board are asking municipalities to contribute more money to their local branches.
In response to the Library Board’s funding request, the Town of Saratoga has begun the process of taking ownership of its library building and any subsequent maintenance costs. Theoretically, this will allow the county to allocate more money toward the library’s operational expenses, such as staff salaries and insurance premiums.
Meanwhile, officials in Medicine Bow have temporarily declined to provide additional funding for their local branch. During Tuesday’s Medicine Bow Town Council meeting, Mayor Justin George presented a letter from the Library Board detailing the total expenditures of the local branch. The Carbon County Library System itself claims to spend $14,464 a year on the Medicine Bow library, with an additional $10,670 coming from grants, donations, and county allocations.
In its letter, the Library Board maintains that the local branch is open six hours a week. Mayor George disputed the claim, adding that he regularly receives complaints about the library being closed during its posted hours.
Additionally, Mayor George said County Commissioner Sue Jones informed him about a $15,000 private donation for the Hanna and Medicine Bow libraries. The Mayor said Commissioner Jones is asking both municipalities to contribute several hundred dollars each in response to the donation.
According to the Library Board’s report, the Town of Medicine Bow donates $480 in water and sewer fees to its local branch. Mayor George disputed that figure, saying that when factoring in town-provided snow removal, lawn care, and garbage collection, Medicine Bow actually contributes a total of $2,108 every year.
Mayor George said that, in his personal opinion, the Town of Medicine Bow has not benefited from its investment in the library, citing the shrinking number of books and reduced hours of operation. Having donated approximately $20,000 over the past decade with little return to the town, the Mayor said he didn’t want to continue “throwing good money after bad.”
Councilwoman Kristi Wickizer proposed that the town assume responsibility for its own library, separate from the county system. Councilwoman Wickizer said the current arrangement does not provide an adequate return on the town’s annual investment.
Mayor George suggested moving the library into the Medicine Bow Senior Center, prompting Deputy Town Clerk Alice Clark to point out that the facility lacked space. Mayor George said the alternative is to close the library entirely.
Councilwoman Wickizer said the Medicine Bow Community Center may be a better location for the library. In that scenario, the town could bill the county for utility costs while assuming responsibility for building maintenance.
Mayor George pointed out that building maintenance does not account for a large portion of the Library System’s budget. Instead, the Library Board’s report identifies salary and payroll as major annual expenses.
Mayor George said Commissioner Sue Jones informed him that the Carbon County Library System does not factor the town’s contributions of lawn care, snow removal, and garbage collection into its budget considerations, adding that these services reduce the library’s operating costs. The Mayor said Commissioner Jones told him that the Library Board does not agree with that assessment.
In conclusion, Mayor George said the Board of County Commissioners would like to know if Medicine Bow is willing to contribute $200 or $300 toward the $15,000 private donation, as a gesture of the town’s commitment to its library system. The Town Council voted to table the matter until Mayor George can explain Medicine Bow’s existing financial contributions to the Carbon County Library System Board of Directors.
