Lawmakers consider 'menu' of new taxes

CASPER (AP) — A Wyoming interim legislative panel is looking at proposals that would raise new revenue for the cash-strapped state.

Five of the proposals before the Joint Revenue Committee would raise existing taxes.

The proposals offered include broadening the sales tax, raising the property tax, adding a temporary half-percent sales tax, increasing the tax on wine and spirits, increasing the beer tax and finding a new way to tax tourism.

Committee co-chairman Rep. Mike Madden, of Buffalo, tells the Casper Star-Tribune that not all the proposals are going to move forward.

The Legislature’s leadership tasked the Revenue Committee with recommending three proposals to raise revenue.

The state is currently facing a $530 million deficit in the education fund for the two-year budget cycle that begins next year.