Wyoming property tax limitation ballot measure gets first official review

(The Center Square) – The Secretary of State’s Office has reviewed the first submission of petition signatures for the “People’s Initiative to Limit Property Tax in Wyoming through a Homeowner’s Property Exemption.”

The information was submitted to Chuck Gray’s office on May 30th, and while the secretary said in a letter that it “did not quite reach the required statewide threshold of required signatures,” Gray said that it “did achieve the required number of signatures by county.”

Those receiving the letter include Brent Bien, Richard Weber, and Dr. Cheryl Aguiar, the petition’s Committee of Applicants.

“While its first submittal has come up short of the number of signatures required at the state level, I want to note that in merely seven months of circulation, the Committee’s work on this petition has been extraordinary,” wrote Gray. “As this circulation period does not end until April 13, 2025 (although the threshold likely will change after the 2024 General Election), there is still plenty of time for a second submittal prior to the end of the circulation period.”

The total number of signatures required by law in Wyoming is 29,730. The total number of signatures accepted as valid was 28,700.

Gray commended the committee for its “hard work” in exercising its right to enact laws via initiative.

“Property tax reduction is a very important issue facing our state,” wrote Gray. “The people’s right to propose and enact laws by initiative to address fundamental issues, such as property tax limits, is pivotal. Although the Committee’s first submittal was slightly short of the statewide requirement, there is still time to supplement the first submission.”