GUEST COLUMN

Rarely do we have an opportunity to give ourselves a raise. But this is exactly the decision we get to make on November 3rd if we vote in favor of the 50% residential property tax reduction.

It seems to be a no-brainer, especially in a state that prides itself on setting the standard for low taxes and leave-me-alone independence from government.

If Proposition 1 passes, you and I will get to keep more of our money in our wallets where we put it when we earn it. Everyone who gets up and goes to work to put a roof over their family’s heads gets a raise by being able to keep more money and use it for necessities. Those on fixed incomes will get a raise when their property tax bill is finally smaller than it was last year. Anyone well ahead of the game could take a cruise with the extra money they had budgeted for housing. It doesn’t matter what you decide to do, you will get a raise.

On the other hand, if you follow the lead of those telling you not to vote for Prop 1, they get the raise. And they know it.

Commissioners and city council members will have more money to spend on art and change orders. School administrators will get to decide on cost-of-living adjustments and salary range increases for themselves. Lobbyists will likely get bonuses when the corporations they represent have new grant funds they can apply for.

See how this works?

Of course, the government officials are telling us they cannot fund essential services if property tax revenue is nipped. At the same time, they get raises and give millions away to developers through Tax Increment Financing schemes (look it up). And if we hear one more fourth generation rancher telling us the state cannot afford to cut property taxes while they have made bank selling off parts of their ranch to data centers and polluting our view with the wind turbines and power lines, we will wonder what the Code of the West even means anymore. They only keep ranching to take the loss and lower their own tax burden.

The truth is the government already has enough money to take care of us when we need services. Just last year, the combined excess revenue sent to savings in Laramie County and the City of Cheyenne exceeded all property tax revenue by one million dollars. Meaning, if these places had not collected any property tax in 2025, they still would have had a million-dollar budget surplus. There are similar stories like this all over the state. Chances are that if you look up the audit report for your county, revenue exceeds the income. Since Covid, the 23 counties in Wyoming have seen an average of 70% increase in their revenue from your property taxes. All of them have found ways to spend the money rather than reducing the mill levy and being more strategic about spending.

Many of us have not made any improvements on our home in years. We couldn’t afford to because we had to be strategic about spending. However, our tax bill made it look like we must have added a wing.

We, the working class and the backbone of Wyoming, get to vote in this election to give ourselves a much needed and well-deserved raise by voting in favor of Prop 1. It’s about time. Do what’s good for your purse not for the politicians.

Ben Hornok - Cheyenne


Ben Hornok represented House District 42 in Laramie County from 2023-2024. He served on the House Labor, Health and Social Services Committee.