Wyoming revenue committee weighs property-tax reform, appeals process and acquisition-value options

The Wyoming Legislature's Revenue Committee heard extended testimony Wednesday on property-tax appeals, the scope of county boards of equalization, and proposals to change valuation rules including acquisition (purchase) value and implementation of Amendment A to the state constitution.

Committee Chair Chairman Locke opened a wide-ranging discussion that included staff from the Legislative Service Office, the Department of Revenue and county officials, as well as public testimony. The committee voted to draft three items: a bill draft on acquisition-value reform, a draft to implement Amendment A's residential-class provision without creating the owner-occupied subclass, and a bill draft to revise the county appeals process and evidence exchange.

Why this matters: property taxes fund local services (schools, public safety, roads) and large valuation swings have prompted constituent complaints and proposed statewide reform. Committee members sought both legal guidance about what constitutional changes would be required and practical detail on how counties handle appeals and document exchange.

Josh Anderson, Legislative Service Office staff, told the committee the new constitutional language in Article 15, Section 11 gives the Legislature authority to “prescribe the percentage of value which shall be assessed within each designated class,” and that the committee could choose to define residential property at a percentage that preserves current revenue. Anderson also cautioned the…