Wyoming Legislators Advance Plan To Kill All Residential Property Taxes

[Dos Equis]

If I ever decided to move (which will never happen) Wyoming would be on my short list.  No state income taxes.  Budget surplus.  And now this?  I like it.

Wyoming Legislators Advance Plan To Kill All Residential Property Taxes
Wyoming lawmakers advanced five property tax reform plans Wednesday. One of the measures, if passed by the Legislature and the people of Wyoming, would change the state Constitution to eliminate residential property tax altogether.
Clair McFarland
November 20, 2025
https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/11/20/lawmakers-advance-plan-to-kill-all-residential-property-taxes/

[IroNat]

Does anyone live in Wyoming?

[Dos Equis]

Does anyone live in Wyoming?

Only about half a million.  Least populous state in the country. 

[chaos]

Does anyone live in Wyoming?

It's a nice place to visit.

[Irongrip400]

Does anyone live in Wyoming?

I went to Jackson once. It was pretty cool.

[Humble Narcissist]

I went to Jackson once. It was pretty cool.

Awesome place! The people there probably pay all the taxes for the rest of the state.

[Primemuscle]

If I ever decided to move (which will never happen) Wyoming would be on my short list.  No state income taxes.  Budget surplus.  And now this?  I like it.

Wyoming Legislators Advance Plan To Kill All Residential Property Taxes
Wyoming lawmakers advanced five property tax reform plans Wednesday. One of the measures, if passed by the Legislature and the people of Wyoming, would change the state Constitution to eliminate residential property tax altogether.
Clair McFarland
November 20, 2025
https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/11/20/lawmakers-advance-plan-to-kill-all-residential-property-taxes/

How does the Legislature plan to fund the cost of the state's infrastructure, such as: public education; public safety; police and fire; infrastructure and roads; and public services? Seems to me they must either cut public services or shift the burden of their expense to other means of tax revenue.
 

[chaos]

How does the Legislature plan to fund the cost of the state's infrastructure, such as: public education; public safety; police and fire; infrastructure and roads; and public services? Seems to me they must either cut public services or shift the burden of their expense to other means of tax revenue.

How was all of that stuff built and paid for before property taxes?

[IroNat]

What's Wyoming like?

https://m.youtube.com/@NickJohnson/search?query=wyoming

[IroNat]

How does the Legislature plan to fund the cost of the state's infrastructure, such as: public education; public safety; police and fire; infrastructure and roads; and public services? Seems to me they must either cut public services or shift the burden of their expense to other means of tax revenue.
 

https://wyomingtaxexpert.com/tax/types-of-taxes-in-wyoming-why-its-one-of-the-most-tax-friendly-states/

Wyoming public schools are highly ranked.

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/public-school-rankings-by-state

[Primemuscle]

https://wyomingtaxexpert.com/tax/types-of-taxes-in-wyoming-why-its-one-of-the-most-tax-friendly-states/

Wyoming public schools are highly ranked.

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/public-school-rankings-by-state

Wyoming's school rankings are good. How do you see this changing, if at all, if Wyoming does away with residential property taxes which currently fund the education system.

Wyoming is among the states with the lowest population density - with approximately 6 people per square mile. Do you think this impacts Wyoming's tax system, and does it have a positive impact or negative one?

Wyoming has a very low minimum wage of $7.25 hr. which is the same as the federal minimum wage. The average annual income is $60,610, and median household income is $72,415. Wyoming's cost of living is lower than the national average. The unemployment rate is lower than in many states.

On the surface, Wyoming seems like a great place to live, especially if a low total tax burden is your main goal. However, there are some things to consider if you are considering a move to Wyoming. These are: the harsh climate, limited urban amenities, low population contributes to feelings of isolation, the distance between necessities can be great depending on where you live. For the most part Wyoming provides a rural lifestyle, which might seem like a good thing, but consider that this also means well water, septic systems, and extensive snow removal, (best get a pickup truck with a snowplow attachment because chances are you will be digging your way out during colder months.

I for one have no plans to move to Wyoming anytime soon. I own mineral rights in Wyoming that generate royalties, primarily from natural gas and crude oil.  However, there is no need for me to check on them in person, thank goodness.






 

[IroNat]

Wyoming's school rankings are good. How do you see this changing, if at all, if Wyoming does away with residential property taxes which currently fund the education system.

Wyoming is among the states with the lowest population density - with approximately 6 people per square mile. Do you think this impacts Wyoming's tax system, and does it have a positive impact or negative one?

Wyoming has a very low minimum wage of $7.25 hr. which is the same as the federal minimum wage. The average annual income is $60,610, and median household income is $72,415. Wyoming's cost of living is lower than the national average. The unemployment rate is lower than in many states.

On the surface, Wyoming seems like a great place to live, especially if a low total tax burden is your main goal. However, there are some things to consider if you are considering a move to Wyoming. These are: the harsh climate, limited urban amenities, low population contributes to feelings of isolation, the distance between necessities can be great depending on where you live. For the most part Wyoming provides a rural lifestyle, which might seem like a good thing, but consider that this also means well water, septic systems, and extensive snow removal, (best get a pickup truck with a snowplow attachment because chances are you will be digging your way out during colder months.

I for one have no plans to move to Wyoming anytime soon. I own mineral rights in Wyoming that generate royalties, primarily from natural gas and crude oil.  However, there is no need for me to check on them in person, thank goodness.

I highly doubt anyone in Wyoming would want you there.

[Primemuscle]

How was all of that stuff built and paid for before property taxes?

-Good question. They did not come free. Roads, schools, and other amenities were funded through a variety of mechanisms, including tariffs, excise taxes, community labor, private investment, plus other forms of taxation. Property taxes have been in place since 1684, before the American Revolution and therefore before there was a United States of America.

[GymnJuice]

If I ever decided to move (which will never happen) Wyoming would be on my short list.  No state income taxes.  Budget surplus.  And now this?  I like it.

Wyoming Legislators Advance Plan To Kill All Residential Property Taxes
Wyoming lawmakers advanced five property tax reform plans Wednesday. One of the measures, if passed by the Legislature and the people of Wyoming, would change the state Constitution to eliminate residential property tax altogether.
Clair McFarland
November 20, 2025
https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/11/20/lawmakers-advance-plan-to-kill-all-residential-property-taxes/

It’s a fantastic concept, though I suspect it’ll mainly attract big landowners like Ted Turner or people who want to live the ranch life.

Our tax system would be fairer and more efficient if we focused on taxing consumption and use instead of taxing wealth or property people already own.

[Dos Equis]

It’s a fantastic concept, though I suspect it’ll mainly attract big landowners like Ted Turner or people who want to live the ranch life.

Our tax system would be fairer and more efficient if we focused on taxing consumption and use instead of taxing wealth or property people already own.

Completely agree.  I think Florida is trying to do the same thing. 

[IroNat]

Florida has the worst ranked public school system in the nation.

Anyone with means there sends their kids to private schools.

This is the case with most of the states with terrible public schools.

[Dos Equis]

Florida has the worst ranked public school system in the nation.

Which means property taxes are likely having zero impact on the quality of public school education. 

[IroNat]

Which means property taxes are likely having zero impact on the quality of public school education. 

Not clear on your logic but I must be missing it.

However, the highest per pupil costs are usually found in the worst districts.

Towns that spend the most on education usually are the most affluent with parents who value education.

[Dos Equis]

Many of the highest per pupil costs are found in the worst districts.

Our largest state budget item is education and our public education system absolutely sucks.  No parent who can afford to send their kid to private schools has their kids in public school. 

[IroNat]

Our largest state budget item is education and our public education system absolutely sucks.  No parent who can afford to send their kid to private schools has their kids in public school. 

The worst district in my state spends the most per pupil.  This district gets a lot of state aid because it is a poor place.
The place is bad.  Lots of crime, etc. 
But the students are bad too which is the main reason.
Bad environment, bad parents make bad kids.

Prime's state of Oregon has only mediocre public schools ranking 30s out of the 50 states.
His own particular town's schools probably rank ok but the state overall is mediocre.

The schools in my state are funded primarily through real estate taxes.  Wealthy districts collect more taxes from the residents who live in the town. 
The parents value education and the public schools are excellent.
Expensive homes and high property taxes act as a barrier to keep out undesirables.
That's one reason why people spend the money to live in those towns.

[Dos Equis]

Not clear on your logic but I must be missing it.

However, the highest per pupil costs are usually found in the worst districts.

Towns that spend the most on education usually are the most affluent with parents who value education.

I'm saying that property taxes (and tax revenue in general) have not helped increase the quality of public school education.  It is the mismanagement of money, poor policy, misplaced priorities, and the focus on metrics over actually teaching kids how to read, write, do math, etc. that have led to the disintegration of the public school system.  In other words, cutting property taxes isn't going to have some kind of adverse impact on public schools. 

[IroNat]

I'm saying that property taxes (and tax revenue in general) have not helped increase the quality of public school education.  It is the mismanagement of money, poor policy, misplaced priorities, and the focus on metrics over actually teaching kids how to read, write, do math, etc. that have led to the disintegration of the public school system.  In other words, cutting property taxes isn't going to have some kind of adverse impact on public schools. 

Indeed.  Minimally funded Catholic schools provided excellent educations.
Of course they could kick out troublemakers and the public schools can't.