Geis: State budget good considering shortfall

Wyoming Governor Matt Mead signed the new biennium budget into law Thursday, with a few line item vetoes that were mostly overridden by the Senate.

Sen. Gerald Geis (R-Worland) said “We did as good as we could do with the shortfall. I don’t think the shortfall is over. We may have to redo some of the budget next year with the continual drop in oil and natural gas prices. We’ve got to get a little more diversified.” He added that he doesn’t think agriculture gets enough credit for helping the state with tourism, including helping feed wildlife and ensuring some open spaces.

Conference committee bills

The bill sponsored by Rep. Nathan Winter (R-Thermopolis) on wolf depredation compensation was also being worked in conference committee. The bill provides $200,000 to compensate landowners who have suffer damages from wolves in the predatory area.

Bills ready for governor’s signature

Bills approved by both houses and either signed by the governor or awaiting signature include:

—State shrub. This proposal was brought to the Legislature by Hulett High School’s advanced biology class and declares artemisia tridentata wyomingensis, commonly known as Wyoming Big Sagebrush, as the state shrub of Wyoming. (The governor signed the bill Friday.)

—Senate Enrolled Act 53 will allow for most two-lane highways to be 70 mph instead of 65 mph for maximum speed.

—A new state department was created. Senate Enrolled Act 59 combines the construction management program, currently within the Department of Administration and Information, with the School Facilities Department to create the State Construction Department. The budget will come from appropriations made to the two consolidated entities. The State Construction Department will function as the administrative arms of the State Building Commission and the School Facilities Commission.

—A bill clarifying sales tax exemption for senior center meals. According the Legislative Service Office summary, “Wyoming law imposes no sales tax on sales of meals to ‘persons’ if the sale occurs in the regular conduct of senior citizen center functions and activities. This bill clarifies who is eligible for the sales tax exemption. Only senior citizens, their guests and meals delivered to the homebound qualify for the exemption.”