Governor Requests Additional Funds for Wildfire Protection, Legal Challenges, and Property Tax Relief
Governor Mark Gordon has presented his spending priorities for the upcoming fiscal period, with significant emphasis on wildfire protection, legal battles, and property tax relief, Billings Gazette reports.
Last week, the governor outlined his requests to the Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee, aiming to address gaps in the current biennium budget.
The governor’s “supplemental” budget request is designed to address unforeseen issues that arose after the passage of the two-year budget last year. This budget includes funding for urgent matters and those that the Legislature has specifically requested. Gordon is seeking an additional $692.3 million on top of the $10.39 billion already appropriated for the 2025-26 biennium. However, the fate of these requests will be decided by a committee with significant turnover following the 2024 elections, making the outcome uncertain.
Among the key priorities highlighted by Gordon, wildfire protection stands out, with the governor requesting $50 million for firefighting efforts and $130 million for restoration projects. In 2024, Wyoming experienced nearly 2,000 wildfires that scorched over 850,000 acres, with about 70% of the affected land being private or state-owned. Fire suppression efforts in response to these fires cost more than $55 million, depleting state emergency and contingency funds. Without additional funding, the governor warned that Wyoming could be unprepared for future wildfire seasons or other natural disasters, such as severe winter storms or flooding.
While ultraconservative legislators have expressed skepticism about some of Gordon’s spending proposals, questions have also come from other members of the committee, including Sen. Mike Gierau, a Democrat from Jackson. Gierau raised concerns about the governor’s request for a lump sum for legal challenges, particularly those related to land use and federal regulations. In particular, Gierau questioned the need for funds to address disputes regarding immigration issues, suggesting that the governor should return to the Legislature for specific funding requests rather than being granted broad discretion.
One of Gordon’s significant funding requests is $75 million for litigation related to federal overreach, particularly in managing Wyoming’s natural resources. The state is currently engaged in ongoing legal battles to protect its coal industry, including opposition to federal regulations like the Buffalo Resource Management Plan. According to the governor, $1.2 million previously allocated for these efforts is nearly depleted, and additional funds are necessary to continue the state’s legal defense.
The supplemental budget is a comprehensive document, totaling 659 pages and encompassing requests from various state agencies and communities. The Legislature will review these proposals during its upcoming session, which begins in January. In addition to funding for wildfire protection and legal battles, the governor has requested $10.5 million for the state’s expanded property tax refund program, which has faced funding shortfalls. This year, the program has already distributed $14.3 million to property owners to help cover their 2023 property tax bills.
Another area of concern for the governor is the availability of obstetric services in Wyoming, as several hospitals, including Evanston Regional Hospital, are discontinuing labor and delivery services. Gordon has requested additional funds to support Medicaid rate increases for obstetric care and mental health providers, emphasizing the importance of addressing these gaps in health services.
