 |
| ESPC Home | | | 2005 LAP* Book | | | Background | | | Legislator Profiles | | | Key Votes | | | LAP* Book Home |
|
|
| Numeric List |
|
|
| Budget |
|
|
| Accountability |
|
|
|
Health & Human Services |
|
|
| Justice System |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
| State Employees |
|
|
|
Taxation & Revenue |
|
|
|
Wildlife & Environment |
|
|
|
Worker & Public Safety |
|
|
| Tribal Affairs |
|
|
| Senior Citizens |
|
|
2005 General Session
SF 34 made some changes to Wyoming’s property tax relief program to make it easier for citizens to qualify for the program, by relaxing some qualification requirements.
Previously, a person must have resided in Wyoming for at least ten years before they could apply for the property tax relief program. SF 34 reduced the residency requirement to five years.
Income and asset restrictions were also relaxed. Previously, a person’s total household assets could not exceed $5,000. SF 34 increased that limit to $20,000 per adult member of the household. And instead of requiring that total household income not exceed one-half of the county’s median household income, SF 34 required that individual applicants’ gross income not exceed the county’s median household income.
Supporters noted that although $4.8 million was appropriated for the property tax relief program in the 2004 budget session of the Legislature, only about $75,000 has actually been spent on refunds to date. Supporters presented this as evidence that the program’s qualification requirements are so restrictive that few property owners could qualify for the program.
Opponents (who were few) thought the program was adequate as currently structured.
Senate and House committees passed SF 34 unanimously, the full House passed SF 34 unanimously, and the full Senate passed SF 34, 29-1. Senator Cale Case (R-S25, Lander) cast the only NO vote on Senate third reading.