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Severance Tax Repayment

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 09:50:28 -0600

There was a rumor a while back that the State Treasurer’s Office had somehow overpaid counties for severance taxes in FY 1995 and that the state would demand repayment of the tax at some point in the future.

The future is now. According to the State Treasurer’s Office, repayment of the severance tax will begin on July 1, 2010 and continue for the next 16 quarters.

The link below is to a worksheet provided to Cindy DeLancey, Executive Director of the Wyoming County Commissioners Association, calculating the amount of payment reductions over the four year period.

These are still not final number. The State Treasurer’s Office is still determining the amount of the overpayments (this must be quite arduous) which will then effect the amount to be withheld from future distributions.

There’s no word on what materials will be provided to counties documenting the overpayment and appropriate withholdings.

Severance repayment worksheet

Spring Meeting

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:52:29 -0600

Sue has e-mailed information out about the WCTA Spring Meeting to be held in Green River in May. The registration forms and agenda can be found on the meetings page.

County Distributions from the Budget

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:05:45 -0600

The Governor has signed the budget and while the legislature really loves them some cities and towns, there is some money there for counties, though not at much as in prior budgets.

Section 335 of the budget, House Enrolled Act 46, allocates $87,456,560 for distribution to local governments. One-third of 89% of the total, or $25,945,187 will be distributed directly to counties in August 2010 and August 2011.

All counties will receive an equal share of 15% of the $25.9 million. The other 85% will be distributed to counties based on the proportion of the county’s population to the state population.

Another 5.5% of the $87.4 million dollar allocation will be sent to “revenue challenged” counties. The formula to determine if a county is revenue challenged is based on twelve mills of the total valuation compared to a county funding need based on population.

And... they’re off

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 08:55:11 -0700

The legislative season has officially started, with the first round of bills pre-filed. There are already several that have some implication to county offices. The bill information and bill status will be updated on the Legislation Page.

Local Governments Become a State Agency

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:01:16 -0600

The Select Committee on Local Government Finance completed its statutory mission at its last meeting, on September 30 in Cheyenne.

After hearing testimony about proposed funding formulas from the Wyoming County Commissioners’ Association and the Wyoming Association of Municipalities, the committee spent some time discussing their mission and passed a motion that set the future course for funding to local governments.

Senator Schiffer suggested that the priority should be to ensure that every county and city can provide the “minimal services they should be providing.” Those services were not specifically identified. He then suggested that the funding should be provided for in the budget the Joint Appropriations Committee (JAC) begins with and the budget proposed by the Governor.

Schiffer said funding could be determined in the same process that’s used for the school funding external cost adjustment (ECA). In that process, the JAC makes recommendations for the external cost adjustment to the Governor.

Schiffer suggested the same process be set up for local government revenues.

Sen. Nicholas, who also chairs the JAC, said that the distribution model should be the model used in the last budget bill until there’s a reason to change it. Other committee members agreed.

He then proposed that at the time the Joint Appropriations Committee considers an external cost adjustment, it expand its hearing to take testimony from cities, towns and counties. The JAC would begin getting facts and holding discussions on a funding amount for local governments, for inclusion in the Governor’s proposed budget.

After the Governor prepares his budget, Nicholas suggested that the JAC should treat local governments as “an agency” with a municipal representative and a county representative presenting a proposed budget to the JAC.

Schiffer turned those suggestions and proposals into a motion that passed unanimously.

So, the Select Committee has completed its statutory mission. The committee recommendation to the Governor and Joint Appropriations Committee will be that the JAC’s process to determine an external cost adjustment be expanded to include a “review and a determination of funding amounts for local governments.” The findings of that review will be passed to the Governor for inclusion in his budget each year by November 1st. For budget development purposes, local governments will be treated as an agency.

The starting point for the distribution model will be last session’s budget bill, with the funding of “basic services” by counties and cities being a “high priority.”

DOR Makes Ruling on CARS Program

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:08:35 -0600

Dan Noble, Administrator with the Department of Revenue’s Excise Tax Division issued a statement outlining the Department’s position on the tax status of the federal government’s Car Allowance Rebate System.

The Deparment, “has determined that the discount will be treated as part of the trade-in price of the vehicle used to obtain the discount and as such will not be subject to Wyoming sales or use tax.”

The ruling has to do with the fact that the clunker has to be traded in as part of the purchase transaction and that the rebate is actually paid directly to the dealership after disposal of the vehicle.

Game & Fish & Sales Tax & Oops

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:53:49 -0600

Game & Fish has changed its regulations regarding proof of sales tax for boat registrations.

The rules haven’t been posted to the Wyoming Secretary of State site yet but Tom attended a meeting with G&F and County Clerks where the new regulation was explained.

Once the new rules go into effect, a person applying for a boat registration can prove the sales tax is paid by providing a COPY of the boat title. Since Clerks regularly release copies of titles without sales tax payment this is obviously an issue.

Luckily, the G&F has the ability to change their regulations every two years so this should be fixed in 2011. Until then, some Clerks will stamp title copies “Sales Tax Not Paid” to help G&F identify which copies are just copies and which copies are more than just copies.

WACO Schedule

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:51:09 -0600

Association President Tom Doyle sent along this reminder about the WACO schedule:

“Be aware that the WACO dinner is on Thursday—not Wednesday—the 24th this year! And our meetings will be all day the 23rd and the afternoon of the 24th. WACO itself is scheduled for the 22-24th.”

WACO Class Registration

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:26:12 -0600

Once again, several excellent classes are being offered at WACO. Class information is below. If you want to jump right to the on-line registration, click the link: WACO Seminar Registration. Each seminar costs $35 per person.

Please note that this year each class is offered only either in the morning or afternoon time slot - not both. Please select the appropriate time for your class when registering.

Class Information - September 22, 2009

Anatomy of a Successful Contested Case (8am - noon)
(Administrative Hearings)
Objective: In this engaging seminar you will work through a series of scenarios that will illustrate the key principals and myths of administrative law. Understanding these principles will empower your agency to conduct a contested case hearing that will survive appellate scrutiny all the way to the Wyoming Supreme Court. You will not want to miss this informed presentation from a panel of Wyoming’s most experienced veterans of administrative law, including judges, commissioners, and government and private attorneys.

Local Government Issues (8 am - noon)
“What to do when you have been sued” - Local Government Liability Pool
“What a difference a year makes” - James D. King, Professor/Department head; Department of Political Science - University of Wyoming. “What a Difference a Year Makes: The Changed Political Environment of 2009.” In this Dr. King will consider various political changes that affect what local governments do, including both national and state influences”
“Identifying priorities in a shrinking economy - a town meeting with our most important legislators.” - Senator Phil Nicholas, Chair, Joint Appropriations and Member of the Select Committee on Local Government Finance Committee, Representative Colin Simpson, Speaker of the House.

Creating a “Leaders Voice” - Communications as a Strategic Leadership Tool (1 pm - 4:45 pm)
Instructor: Gregg Piburn, Owner Leader’s Edge Consulting, Inc.
Objective: There are many skills and tools an effective leader has in his or her toolbox. This interactive and memorable workshop helps managers and supervisors become far more effective communicators, which represents a great addition to the toolbox. People tend to rate their worst bosses as poor communicators and their best bosses as great communicators. This workshop will definitely raise the communication marks employees give leaders who attend.

Upcoming Interim Meetings

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 08:22:10 -0600

The legislative interim committees continue their work. Here are the upcoming meeting dates and places:

Revenue
July 28-29, Capitol Building, Room 302, Cheyenne

Transportation
August 10-11, UW Outreach Building, 951 N Poplar, Casper

Task Force on Wind Energy August 26-27, McMurry Training Center, 2220 Bryan Stock Tr, Casper

Minerals
September 14-15, Council Room, Town Hall, Jackson

Select Committee on Local Government Finance
No meetings announced