Wyoming's Amendment A: what you need to know about property tax relief
On Nov. 5, Wyoming voters will get to approve or reject a constitutional amendment separating residential property into its own category for property tax assessments.
Known as Constitutional Amendment A, the measure would allow the Cowboy State's legislature to place residential property into its own property class and make owner-occupied primary residences its own subclass.
Wenlin Liu, Administrator at the Wyoming Economic Analysis Division, says that creating a separate class would allow lawmakers to change taxation levels for residential property without impacting taxes on agricultural or commercial lands.
"The main purpose is to create a separate residential away from agriculture and commercial, then create a subclass under residential for owner occupant primary residency," says Liu.
Increasing costs in Wyoming accounted for just under half of all cost-of-living increases in the state between 2017 and 2023, according to data from the Wyoming Economic Analysis Division. The ballot initiative was the result of a 2023 legislative session to put the amendment before voters.
While legislators passed four property tax relief bills in the 2024 session, politicians in Wyoming cannot raise or lower taxes specifically on residential properties unless the classes are changed in the constitution.
State Rep. Liz Storer, D-Jackson, backs the amendment. Storer represents parts of Teton County, home to the ultra-affluent Jackson, which boasts some of the highest property values in the country. According to Realtor.com, the median listing home price is $3.1 million.
Storer views the amendment as a necessary first step towards easing burdens on homeowners. "It gives us some great tools for long-term tax policy changes that we can consider down the road that make sense and are constitutional."
Just under three-quarters of property tax revenue in Wyoming goes to support education, with the remainder going to counties, local governments, and special districts. No money goes to the state. If the amendment passes and property taxes are lowered, revenue lost from property tax would likely have to be made up elsewhere.
Liu notes that even if the amendment passes, there's no guarantee the legislature will take action.
"They may act on it, or they may not," Liu says. "The positive is relief for the residents, the negative is long-term impact for revenue."
State Rep. Daniel Singh, R-Cheyenne, who supported bringing the amendment to the voters in 2023, says that he has second thoughts now. He highlights what he sees as potential negative effects on small landlords and skepticism in giving the government increased discretion with taxes.
"The question really boils down to, should the legislature have more power to tax things differently, and if you trust the legislature to tax you properly, then go ahead and vote yes," Singh says. "If you don't trust the legislature to use the tools in their belts anyways, I wouldn't suggest giving them another tool in their belt."
Cy Neff reports on Wyoming politics for Paste BN. You can reach him at cneff@usatoday.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @CyNeffNews