Game and fish property tax exemption.25LSO-0056, 1.0
SF0099
FISCAL NOTE
FY 2026FY 2027FY 2028NON-ADMINISTRATIVE IMPACTAnticipated Revenue (decrease)SCHOOL FOUNDATION FUND (43 mills)($0)($340,000)($340,000)AD VALOREM TAX (local taxing entities)($0)($200,000)($200,000)
Source of revenue (decrease):
This bill provides a property tax exemption for real property owned by the
Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, except for real property used for wildlife
management purposes and assessed as agricultural land under W.S. 39-13-
103(b)(xii). The bill is effective January 1, 2026, reducing property tax revenue
beginning in tax year 2026 (paid in FY 2027). The estimated decreases in property
tax revenues to the School Foundation Program (SFP) and to other local taxing
entities are provided in the above table.
The SFP will experience a revenue decrease from the 43 mills supporting K-12
public education, which include the statewide 12 mill levy, the school district
25 mill levy, and the countywide 6 mill levy. For purposes of this analysis, the
decrease in property tax revenues to the SFP is shown as an absolute revenue
decrease in lieu of estimating the school district recapture revenue decrease and
the school district entitlement expenditure increase separately.
Assumptions:
The above estimate is based on information obtained from the statewide Computer
Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) system from tax year 2024 data. The property tax
revenue decrease is computed using the statewide average mill levy for the 2024
tax year of 68.504 mills. The October 2024 Consensus Revenue Estimating Group
(CREG) forecast projects a zero percent growth rate in the assessed valuation of
non-mineral property for FY 2027 and FY 2028.
Based on the information above, this bill would decrease total property taxes by
approximately $540,000 per year in tax years 2026 and 2027 (FY 2027 and FY 2028).
Of the estimated total impact, the decreased revenue from the 43 mills supporting
the SFP is approximately $340,000 per year in tax years 2026 and 2027 (FY 2027
and FY 2028).
This bill will also result in a corresponding expenditure decrease in Game and
Fish Commission funds. The total expenditure decrease in Game and Fish Commission
funds is estimated at approximately $540,000 per year, beginning in FY 2027.
Prepared by: Dean Temte, LSO Phone: 777-7881
(Information provided by Kenneth Guille, Department of Revenue, 777-5235)