Legislature to Focus on Budget Deficit
Written by Andrew-Rossi on February 12, 2018
What to do about a looming, $684 million budget deficit will be a top priority when Wyoming lawmakers begin their annual legislative session today.
The Wyoming Legislative Service Office puts the deficit at $850 million but House Speaker Steve Harshman tells the Casper Star-Tribune he’s subtracting over $150 million in cash and one-time payments Wyoming got last year.
The Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee recently rejected a series of major tax proposals, leaving spending cuts the focus for fixing the shortfall caused by weak revenue from fossil fuels.
One option is to tap the state’s billions in savings. But lawmakers including Senate President Eli Bebout oppose such diversions as unsustainable.
Gov. Matt Mead will offer his ideas in his annual state of the state address in Cheyenne.
