Saratoga Officials Consider Taking Over Saratoga Library Building

JULY 3, 2025 |

Photo – Saratoga branch library – Courtesy Carbon County Library web page

In Saratoga, the mayor and town council are exploring the possibility of taking over the town’s library from Carbon County.

In response to the dramatic rise in home values driven by COVID-related migration into the Cowboy State in recent years, the Wyoming Legislature enacted several property tax relief measures. Among them, Senate File 69 provides a 25% property tax reduction for all Wyoming homeowners, capped at $1 million of a residential property’s assessed value, including the home and its associated land.

Here in Carbon County, the 25% property tax cut is estimated to cost the county government approximately $500,000. The reduced income to the county is forcing the Board of Carbon County Commissioners to consider cutting services, such as road maintenance and funding for outside agencies.

All library buildings, except for the Elk Mountain Library, are owned by the county, which also pays operational costs for each facility.

With property tax-related budget cuts set for the upcoming fiscal year, representatives from the Carbon County Library System are urging municipalities to increase their contributions to their local libraries. Many towns already donate water and sewer costs.

However, Library Board members have asked the governing bodies to either pay for electricity and internet or assume full responsibility for the building.

The Town of Saratoga is going one step further. Town officials are contemplating taking ownership of the library. Speaking at the July 1st Saratoga Town Council Meeting, County Commissioner Sue Jones thanked the governing body for providing water and sewer services to the local senior center and library. Commissioner Jones said the county doesn’t express its appreciation often enough for the contributions of municipalities.

Commissioner Jones said significant changes to county funding are required because of the property tax cuts initiated by the Wyoming Legislature. Jones said fundraising will be necessary to offset the financial losses to special districts and other services, including libraries.

Saratoga Mayor Chuck Davis asked Commissioner Jones for a detailed breakdown of the library’s operational costs. The county commissioner explained the reason behind Mayor Davis’s request and provided the utility costs for the building, which was upgraded five years ago.

The $2,300 annual expense covers electricity and heat for the library building.

Should the town of Saratoga take ownership of the library, Commissioner Jones said her company, Sunrise Sanitation Service, will continue providing complimentary trash collection. The commissioner added that the town would also receive county-owned property adjacent to the library building. The Carbon County Library System would still be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the facility.

Commissioner Jones said Carbon County owns too many buildings, many of which show their age. New ideas are needed to combat the effects of property tax cuts.

Commissioner Jones said the entire Board of Carbon County Commissioners supports the town’s plan to assume ownership of the library.