CHEYENNE, Wyo. — On Saturday, March 23, Governor Gordon thanked the 67th Legislature and signed House Bill 1, setting what he called a conservative budget for the next two years, which he says prioritizes government services for citizens, economic growth, mental health and the authorization of the Kelly Parcel sale. Gordon also emphasized the need to invest and save for the future.
“This budget addresses our challenges and positions Wyoming for a prosperous future,” Governor Gordon said in the announcement. “We are fighting federal overreach, advancing our industries, providing practical property tax relief, ensuring adequate funding for our schools, counties and communities and providing the services Wyoming residents expect.”
According to the Governor’s Office, Gordon exercised his authority to line-item veto the budget, with the focus on “improving the quality of life for Wyoming families.” The Governor outlined the budget in his State of the State speech, which includes $20 million for property tax relief for Wyoming homeowners, investing in the Wyoming Innovation Partnership initiative to sustain programs for workforce development and economic growth, extending funding to energy industries to use and store carbon dioxide, ensuring safe drinking water, the allocation of more than $300 million for the construction of K through 12 schools, adding resources to protect critical State infrastructure and the assurance of a fair and competitive wage for Wyoming employees.
The Governor also addressed the need to support community mental health centers, its providers and youth services, as well as funding the 988 suicide prevention hotline and expanding capacity to add text and chat services.
The Governor left intact a budget amendment authorizing the sale of the Kelly Parcel, a square mile of school trust property in Teton County, to the federal government for no less than $100 million with specific conditions relating to the Bureau of Land Management’s Rock Springs plan.
Gordon wrote in his line-item veto letter, that the biennial budget will “uphold separation of powers, executive authority and limit the scope of the bill to properly fund government.” In his letter, the Governor expressed dismay with the lengthy process the legislature took to building the budget.
“Last year in my budget veto letter, I congratulated both chambers on passing a budget in record time – all while increasing transparency,” Gordon wrote. “It is unfortunate this session did not follow suit. Over 300 amendments to this one bill, some of which were introduced to save legislation that failed earlier in the session, almost caused the budget bill to share the same fate.”
