Laramie County Fire District: Senate’s property tax bill a threat to public safety

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — On Tuesday, the Wyoming Senate approved Senate File 69, a bill that would halve residential property taxes up to $1 million. The 23–8 vote sends the bill to the House for consideration. However, the potential impact on essential services, particularly fire districts, has raised serious concerns.

SF69 proposes a 50% reduction in residential property taxes, a figure restored by Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Laramie County, after an earlier attempt to lower it to 25%. Despite an attempt by Sen. Stacy Jones, R-Sweetwater County, to introduce an amendment providing a 12.5% backfill for local governments for lost revenue, the bill as passed lacks any backfill provision.

This contrasts with House Bill 169, a similar property tax reduction bill passed by the House. HB169 also proposes a 50% cut but includes a 50% backfill for local governments, drawn from the state’s “rainy day” fund and general fund.

Both bills are set to expire after two years.

During Senate debate, Sen. Tim Salazar, R-Fremont County, championed SF69 as “historic property tax relief,” saying he fulfilled a long-standing promise to his constituents. Conversely, Sen. John Kolb, R-Sweetwater County, criticized the bill as a “one-size-fits-all approach,” arguing that some local governments have already taken steps to address fiscal concerns and shouldn’t be subject to the blanket reduction. In particular, Kolb referenced the damage potential for fire districts.

“We have fire districts out there that will be devastated,” he said, “so I’m not going to celebrate this as any great win.”

The potential impact on fire districts has become a focal point of concern. Laramie County Fire District No. 5, Pine Bluffs, highlighted potential consequences in a recent statement. Fire districts in Wyoming are funded exclusively through property taxes, capped at 3 mills by a 1947 statute. For example, this equates to roughly $150 annually on a $500,000 home. The proposed 50% tax cut would effectively halve these budgets.

The fire district argues that such a reduction would lead to job losses; difficulty covering basic operating expenses such as fuel, electricity and heat; and hindered vehicle repair and maintenance. It emphasizes the critical role of rapid response in emergencies, stating, “During a medical emergency, time matters. Any delay in response can be catastrophic. During a fire, time matters and seconds count. Cutting budgets leads to job losses, and cutting jobs causes delays in response. Delays in response impact life safety and property loss.”

The district further notes the proposed cuts would reduce budgets to 2010 levels, a time when operating costs were significantly lower. It urges citizens to contact their legislators and express their support for maintaining funding for emergency services.

The Wyoming House will now consider SF69.