In a key decision aimed at addressing rising property taxes, Wyoming voters passed Constitutional Amendment A on Tuesday, creating a distinct tax classification for residential properties separate from commercial and agricultural properties.
The amendment, supported by 146,300 voters according to preliminary results, is expected to give state lawmakers more flexibility in adjusting property tax rates specifically for homeowners in the upcoming 2025 legislative session.
This shift in tax structure, approved by 54% of voters, follows years of increasing home values across Wyoming, which have led to rising tax burdens on property owners. The Wyoming Constitution previously mandated a uniform 9.5% tax rate for residential, commercial, and agricultural properties, limiting lawmakers’ options to tailor tax relief to residential homeowners specifically. Amendment A is anticipated to alleviate that challenge by creating a new tax subclass exclusively for residential real estate, allowing for potential adjustments to the assessment rate in response to changing property values.
“This is now in the hands of the Legislature,” said Laurie Urbigkit, government affairs director for Wyoming Realtors and treasurer of the 4Wyoming PAC, a key supporter of the amendment.
The 4Wyoming PAC spent over $544,000 in efforts to promote the amendment, emphasizing its potential to relieve financial strain on homeowners.
“It will be up to them to see what they want to do with this,” she added.
While proponents celebrated the amendment as a necessary step toward providing property tax relief, some opponents raised concerns about the potential for higher taxes in other areas or a more complicated tax system. Critics argued that the amendment might allow lawmakers to raise commercial or agricultural taxes to compensate for reduced residential tax revenue. Additionally, local budgets for public services such as schools, which rely heavily on property taxes through mill levies, could face financial uncertainty as the legislature considers possible changes to residential tax rates.
The amendment comes after various efforts by Wyoming legislators to address the tax impact of rising property values, including expanding the state’s property tax refund program and providing exemptions for veterans. Moving forward, the legislature may choose to explore further subdivisions within the new residential category, such as creating a subclass for primary, owner-occupied residences.
The amendment, which required two-thirds approval from both the Wyoming House and Senate to make it to the ballot, represents the 14th amendment to Wyoming’s Constitution since 2000. The measure received broad support across the state, with counties like Laramie showing notable approval at a vote count of 25,769 in favor versus 15,722 against.
