An Open Letter to the Citizens of Wyoming:

How will Wyoming’s $183 million budget shortfall affect you? And what can you do about it?

Some politicians and special interests are trying to shape the debate into an oversimplified choice between imposing new taxes and cutting programs. But this approach ignores other options. For example, if Wyoming collected all the tax dollars owed by the state’s mineral taxpayers and reversed years of special interest tax giveaways, there would be no deficit.

This report—unlike state government efforts to date—includes an examination of mineral taxation issues, because these are part of the problem and should be part of the solution.

Citizens must speak out in this budget debate, thus far an insiders’ game dominated by mineral taxpayers and state elected officials. Otherwise, taxes historically paid on minerals will be shifted to citizen, small business and agricultural taxpayers, jeopardizing our state’s ability to fund essential services and all levels of education.

We encourage you to examine this budget crisis for yourself, to draw your own conclusions, and to contact your elected officials to express your opinions. And please talk over this information with your family and friends, and pass this report on to others who care about the future of our great state.

Thank you for your time and willingness to get involved!


Sarah Gorin, Board Chair
Equality State Policy Center

Tom Throop, Director
Equality State Policy Center