CHEYENNE – Monday was a bad day overall for new taxes in Wyoming, as lawmakers killed several bills and punted others to January.
The Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Revenue Interim Committee met in Cheyenne to discuss a number of proposals to address budget deficits in advance of the 2018 budget session, which convenes Feb. 12. The committee has been tasked with identifying $100 million, $200 million and $300 million annually to offset deficits in state government operations and K-12 education funding.
In a state largely averse to taxes, the committee’s work to identify avenues for generating revenue is anything but easy. Following a downturn in the state’s mineral markets – which make up around 70 percent of its revenue – starting in late 2014, cuts to education and state agencies have been felt across Wyoming.