Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
WORLAND – Wyoming County Commissioner Association Executive Director Pete Obermueller met with the Washakie County Commissioners and gave a general outline of the state budget and asked commissioners to look out for hidden effects the county could experience from state-level cuts.
Obermueller reminded the commissioners Gov. Matt Mead will present the 8 percent state agency budget in Cheyenne in the upcoming weeks at the Joint Appropriations Committee meeting.
“The 8 percent was sort of the target for all the agencies out of the general fund … some of the larger agencies will be more than 8 percent and some of the smaller agencies will be less, including some that won’t take any cuts at all,” Obermueller said.
“I haven’t seen any of the cuts personally, but so far the (the half funded for the) county attorneys is held harmless … As far as we know it, that is not going to see any at all.”
“Sen. Perkins from Casper confirmed ... by the time it gets to the Legislature next year, they’ll probably tack on another 10 to 12 percent reductions in state agencies at that point,” Obermueller said.
“One thing I wanted to ask you all is to keep an eye out for the hidden effects that could have on counties,” he added.
Obermueller explained sometimes counties become dependent on state-level funding for certain programs when it’s been in their budget for so long, and when funding stops, the burden falls on the county to fulfill.
Obermueller also gave insight to the funding sources for county roads and maintenance.
Funding for county roads and maintenance comes for gas and diesel tax, and from severance tax, so it does not experience part of the 8 percent cut, Obermueller said.
“That money does not fluctuate on the price of gas … but the volume of gas being purchased,” Obermueller said, and added, “the change in price does not directly affect what counties get.”
“While the revenue projects are down … some of the estimates have that going back up (because of the volume),” Obermueller said.