JC Commission Chair and WCCA President calls for action on property tax relief

With the Johnson County Board of Equalization scheduled to hear appeals to recent property tax assessments on Sept. 15, Johnson County Commission Chairman, Bill Novotny, is calling on the Wyoming legislature to act on increased property tax rates. 

With property tax rate increases averaging 16 percent throughout the Cowboy State, many Wyoming residents are dreading the trip to the mailbox to pick up the bill.

During this year’s legislative session, many bills on property tax relief were proposed. But due to the manner in which the Wyoming Constitution is written, those bills never gained any traction.

Although a bill has been retooled to modify the Wyoming Constitution in order to create a fourth class of property tax – residential property – the process could take up to two years to produce tangible results.  

Novotny also serves as the president of the Wyoming County Commissioners Association, and has voiced his concern on increased property taxes. The WCCA president told listeners that he is hoping something comes from the upcoming meeting on Oct. 15, in Casper. 

The 12 relief proposals remain under review, Sheridan Media will report on the proposals in a future story. Members of the Revenue Committee and a tentative schedule can be found here.