State treasurer praises Gordon’s approach to budget

CHEYENNE (WNE) — Wyoming State Treasurer Curt Meier said he likes the direction Gov. Mark Gordon took with his proposed 2027-28 biennium budget, which was released Monday.

In a news release, Meier said Gordon’s proposal is fiscally responsible and is in step with the treasurer’s vision for a state that eventually should not need to worry whether the oil, gas and minerals segment is in a boom or bust cycle.

“As widely reported after the release of the October report from the Consensus Revenue Estimate Group, Wyoming realized record investment earnings this fiscal year,” Meier said in the release. “Our investments generated $1.86 billion, beating returns from severance taxes and federal mineral royalties combined.”

Meier said strategies implemented by the investment team within the treasurer’s office once again resulted in earnings that exceeded financial benchmarks — the sixth time that has happened under Meier’s tenure. These increased earnings have helped bolster the state’s budget and grow its nest egg for future generations.

Yet, Meier said it is important to understand that a relatively small portion of the past year’s earnings can go toward the budget, while the majority is earmarked for statutorily mandated permanent funds or other dedicated accounts. These include the Common School Permanent Land fund, Hathaway Scholarship fund and the Workers’ Compensation fund, among others.

“It is important to recognize that these earnings help provide vital services to the citizens of Wyoming and keep individual tax contributions at a minimum,” Meier said. “This year’s investment earnings are a great example of how a guided approach can help shape Wyoming’s future.”

The treasurer wants to deposit approximately one-third of 1% (0.0033%) of the state’s managed assets — $100 million — into this proposed fund each year. Meier added that the governor’s budget proposal directs $250 million to permanent funds that could easily be directed to a generational fund instead.

This story was published on Nov. 20, 2025.