A key point of contention has emerged between the Wyoming House and Senate over the allocation of funds for search and rescue operations in the state, Gillette News Record reports.
Both chambers have proposed a $400,000 amendment to the supplemental budget bill to support the Wyoming Search and Rescue Council, but they diverged on the funding source.
The amendment, introduced by Rep. Marilyn Connolly, R-Buffalo, in the House, and Sen. Brian Boner, R-Douglas, in the Senate, seeks to reallocate $400,000 from the Wyoming tourism reserve and projects account to the Search and Rescue Council. The money would be used to reimburse counties for expenses related to search and rescue operations.
Advocates of the funding amendment, including Connolly and Boner, argue that the need for reliable funding for search and rescue operations is urgent. According to the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police (WASCOP), the program has been primarily funded through voluntary donations from outdoor license sales. However, these donations have been on the decline, dropping from over $368,000 in 2020 to just over $250,000 in 2024. Connolly expressed concern that a single large search could drain the account, potentially leaving counties without resources to fund future rescues.
“It would only take one season, and maybe one search, to totally deplete the account where your counties can be made whole,” Connolly said.
She stressed the importance of securing a reliable funding mechanism to avoid depleting the account.
In addition, both Connolly and Boner pointed out that reallocating tourism dollars would benefit Wyoming’s tourists, who make up a significant portion of those requiring rescue operations. In fact, Wyoming’s Office of Homeland Security reports that 37.1% of all search and rescue subjects in the state in recent years have been from out-of-state, with an even higher percentage in 2024.
Despite the support for the amendment, not all lawmakers agreed on using tourism funds for search and rescue operations. Rep. Trey Sherwood, D-Laramie, argued that the 37% of rescues involving out-of-state residents did not justify using tourism funding.
“37% is not a majority,” Sherwood said.
She expressed her concern about the fairness of tapping into tourism dollars for this purpose.
Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, also voiced skepticism about using tourism funds, but indicated that he would support any alternative funding mechanism for search and rescue operations.
Ultimately, the Senate approved the amendment with a vote of 15-12, while the House rejected the proposal by a 38-22 vote.
