FRIDAY, October 23, 2026|
Photo – Property Tax Forum announcement – Courtesy Wyoming Taxpayer Association
On Monday, state tax‑policy advocates will hold an educational forum in Rawlins to discuss the effect of current and proposed property tax relief programs.
During Tuesday’s Rawlins City Council meeting, House District 15 Representative Pam Thayer announced that the Wyoming Taxpayers Association was hosting a meeting in the Jeffery Memorial Community Center on Monday, October 26th. Representative Thayer said Hank Hoversland, Executive Director of the Wyoming Taxpayers Association, will help voters better understand Wyoming’s five property‑tax relief programs: the 25 percent homeowners exemption, the long‑term homeowners exemption, the veterans exemption, the four percent cap on annual residential increases, and the property‑tax refund program. Thayer said Hoversland will also discuss Proposition One, which, if passed, will create a 50 percent property‑tax exemption for all qualifying homeowners. The measure, sometimes referred to as the People’s Initiative, will appear on November’s ballot.
The Wyoming Secretary of State’s Office estimates that Proposition One will reduce the state’s overall revenue by $92.6 million in 2028 and $95.8 million the following fiscal year. However, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners reported that those numbers only cover the loss in school funding if Proposition One passes. The Board estimates that local governments could see a drop closer to $125 million annually.
Speaking at Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Commissioner John Johnson urged residents to learn how their property taxes are used before voting.
Residential property taxes are assessed locally and returned to the counties where they were collected. Seventy percent of that revenue goes directly to schools. Eighteen percent is allocated to the county itself, special districts, including the Carbon County Fire Protection District, receive eight percent, and towns collect two percent. The county’s portion of that tax revenue is used to pay for essential services, such as law enforcement and road maintenance. Further cuts will result in less money for nonessential services, like libraries, senior centers, and museums.
The Wyoming Taxpayer Association’s tax forum is Monday, October 26th, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., at the Jeffery Memorial Community Center, located at 315 West Pine Street in Rawlins. Election day is next Tuesday, November 3rd.
