Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
The recent approval of Constitutional Amendment A in Wyoming is set to reshape the landscape of residential property tax reform, presenting the Legislature with new tools to address ongoing concerns about property taxation.
According to the Legislative Service Office, Constitutional Amendment A establishes a distinct classification for residential real property in property tax assessments. This amendment creates a subclass specifically for owner-occupied primary residences.
This means the Legislature can adjust the tax percentage for owner-occupied primary residences without affecting the tax percentages for other property classifications, such as commercial, agricultural and personal properties.
Constitutional Amendment A was approved with a vote tally of 146,300 in favor,100,375 against, 24,261 undervotes and 107 overvotes as reported on the Secretary of State’s website. In Washakie County, 2,245 residents voted in favor, while 1,344 voted against it. In Big Horn County, 3,016 votes were cast in favor, with 2,253 against. Park County saw 8,966 votes for the Amendment and 6,486 against. Finally, in Hot Springs County, 1,352 residents voted yes, while 1,075 voted no. State Rep. Martha Lawley (R-Worland) expressed her gratitude for its passage. “The citizens of Wyoming’s approval will give the legislature options for residential property tax reform that were not previously available,” Lawley remarked. She emphasized that this amendment provides legislators with resources to pursue thoughtful reform tailored to the unique needs of Wyoming.
As the Legislature prepares for the next steps, Lawley highlighted the importance of evaluating the various options now on the table. “Legislators will have to compare all of the options, weigh them, and consider how they affect Wyoming overall,” she said. Lawley plans to focus specifically on the implications for Washakie and Big Horn counties, ensuring local interests are represented in the discussions.
State Sen. Ed Cooper (R-Ten Sleep) echoed Lawley’s optimism. “I think it will give us the possibility to address the property tax issues,” he noted. Cooper emphasized that the next step involves the Legislature determining the best path forward and expressed hope for meaningful reform in the upcoming 2025 legislative session.
However, not all lawmakers share this enthusiasm. Rep. John Winter (R-Thermopolis), who opposed the resolution to put the amendment on the ballot, cautioned against its uncertain implications. “I voted against it because there are a lot of unknowns in the effort,” he stated, acknowledging a need for further education about the legislative processes involved.
Despite varying opinions among legislators, there is a growing expectation that multiple property tax bills will emerge in the 2025 session. Cooper reassured constituents that many who previously opposed the amendment are now on board, as it allows for reforms to take effect two years earlier than initially planned.
As the Legislature moves forward, legislators like Lawley and Cooper remain committed to addressing the concerns of their peers and constituents while navigating the complexities of property tax reform.
ELECTION RESULTS
Other final results that were unable to be reported due to press time last week include:
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) won reelection to the U.S. Senate with 198,366 votes, according to the Secretary of State’s website. Democrat Scott Morrow received 63,706 with 2,017 write-ins and 6,854 undervotes.
In the US House race, Harriet Hageman secured victory with 184,626 votes. Democrat Kyle Cameron received 60,763 votes, Libertarian Richard Brubaker 9,219 and Jeffrey Haggin 5,360. There were 7,992 undervotes and 1,503 write-ins.
In the Supreme Court judge retention election, Judge John G. Fenn will continue with a yes vote of 175,946 and 50,369 opposed to retention. Judge Kate M. Fox will also continue with 177,758 yes votes to 48,619 no votes.
For president, the Republican ticket of Donald J. Trump and JD Vance received 192,576 votes, Democrats Kamala Harris and Tim Walz 69,508 and Libertarians Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat 4,191. There were 1,996 undervotes and 2,694 write-ins.
Per the Associated Press, Trump received 312 electoral college votes to Harris’s 226. He also received 75,170,146 votes to Harris’s 71,927,807.