Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon has just announced an additional round of cuts to the state’s already lean budget. Since July, Wyoming’s spending has been reduced by 15 percent—with significant hits to key health, education, and family services. Those reductions translate to real lives impacted: much needed services no longer available, jobs lost, paychecks gone.
The governor’s announcement makes this week’s meeting of the Joint Revenue Committee of the Wyoming Legislature even more relevant. The committee will meet Thursday and Friday, 11/19 and 11/20, to consider the state’s budget outlook and discuss new revenue ideas. Check out the agenda here.
It’s important that lawmakers hear from you! (You can be sure they’re getting an earful from vocal anti-tax activists who believe cutting essential services is good for the people of Wyoming.)
Please plan to testify or submit written testimony
to let legislators know you support a pro-revenue approach!
Sign up here by 5 p.m. Wednesday, November 18.
You can find in-depth talking points on specific agenda items here. Feel free to use the points that make the most sense for you. As always, personal messages and stories are best. Some additional key points you might make:
- Please do what you can to pass laws that thoughtfully raise revenue and broaden our tax base.
- Cuts alone will not do the job. That’s not politics, that’s just math.
- I would like legislators to actively support a thorough examination of all tax measures that could help stabilize Wyoming in the short term, and begin constructing a vision for diversifying our economy in the long term.
- Now is our chance to take steps that move Wyoming away from boom and bust cycles for good. Declining oil, gas, coal, and mineral markets can no longer keep our state afloat. Wyoming’s economic base is narrow and unpredictable. Wyoming’s revenue shortfall will continue.
- Wyomingites deserve an economy that can sustain economic diversity, in which every citizen is an asset rather than a drain on the state budget. We cannot diversify our economy or count on drawing new businesses and families to Wyoming when our tax structure means that new residents cost the state rather than contribute to it.
- Cuts are necessary. So are new taxes. State revenue is a lifeline for many counties and towns, and state programs and services—such as elder care, mental health services, libraries, safe roads—are central to who we are as Wyomingites.
Testifying in person or submitting written comments through the Legislature’s website will have the greatest impact, but if you’d prefer to use ESPC’s pre-written message, you can find that here. Thanks for weighing in. If you have any questions, or need help, please let us know!