Wyoming budget plan could end property tax refund program

Pending Wyoming budget bills could end a popular property tax refund program. Teton County, Wyoming Treasurer Donna Baur said the action would affect more than 100 low-income and elderly property owners at risk.

Baur said the Wyoming Joint Legislative Appropriations Committee voted to defund the Tax Refund Program as part of the state’s two-year spending plan.

The program was designed to help low-income taxpayers struggling with rising property taxes. Baur said it aided thousands of residents since its creation in 2003.

126 Teton County taxpayers received a refund in the 2015 tax year.

Administered by the state Department of Revenue with the cooperation and assistance of county treasurers, the Property Tax Refund Program was last modified in 2004. Qualifying taxpayers may reduce their property tax liability if the applicant has been a resident of Wyoming for not less than five (5) years, and their household income is equal to or less than the greater of three fourths (3/4) of the median household income for the state or county in which they reside. Taxpayers must also qualify under asset limitation rules.