Local listening — Senator seeks local input ahead of budget session

Sen. Cheri Steinmetz, R-Torrington, will visit Weston County later this month to meet with local governments, special districts and residents as lawmakers prepare for Wyoming’s upcoming budget session.

Steinmetz is scheduled to attend the regular meeting of the Weston County Republican Party on Monday, Jan. 26, at the Weston County Senior Center. The party’s business meeting will begin at 6 p.m., followed by a legislative update and public discussion with Steinmetz at 7 p.m., according to Weston County Republican Party Chair Kari Drost.

The meeting is open to the public, and residents are encouraged to attend and bring questions.

In addition to the evening forum, Steinmetz said she will spend the day in Weston County holding legislative listening sessions with local governments and special
districts.

“The purpose is straightforward: to hear directly from Wyoming Citizens about the issues they’re facing and the priorities they want reflected in the upcoming budget session,” Steinmetz said.

She said she expects discussions to include property tax relief, election integrity and the challenges faced by local entities, including public safety, roads, infrastructure and rising costs that affect both services and taxpayers.

The Weston County visit follows recent budget markup work by the Joint Appropriations Committee, where lawmakers debated significant proposals and reductions across state government.

“I want to hear how those decisions are being received locally and what questions Wyoming Citizens have about the direction of the budget,” Steinmetz said.

She said potential topics include economic development programs, higher education funding, health services, state employee compensation and other agency spending.

Tax policy is also expected to be a major focus of the discussions.

Steinmetz said conversations may include proposals to reduce or eliminate residential property taxes and how lost revenue could be replaced, including a publicly discussed estimate of a 2.54% sales tax increase as one possible alternative.

“Wyoming citizens deserve a clear understanding of what that could mean for families, consumers, businesses and local government services,” she said.

Other proposals likely to be discussed include a 2026 ballot initiative calling for a 50% reduction in residential property taxes and a 4% cap concept referenced in recent statewide debate.

“As we head into a budget session — where each senator is limited to three bills — I will be sponsoring three measures, with all bill titles and numbers forthcoming, and also preparing several budget amendments,” Steinmetz said.

Those measures will address legislative authorization for large energy projects, a constitutional amendment to require Senate confirmation of Wyoming Supreme Court justices, and low-income housing policy requiring that tax exemptions only be granted if a project is 100% owned by a county or municipality.

She is also preparing several budget amendments and has taken a bill to the Select Water Committee that would prohibit the destruction of water molecules to produce hydrogen from being defined as a beneficial use under Wyoming water law.

“Above all, these Weston County meetings are about listening — so I can represent our communities with accuracy, balance and accountability when the Legislature convenes.,” Steinmetz said.