Tax cuts will be painful

Nearly 50 years ago, Ronald Reagan warned America about a woman from Chicago who manipulated the welfare system so extensively that she allegedly earned six figures and drove a Cadillac. Dubbed the “welfare queen” of the 1980s, she became a symbol of government assistance gone wrong.

As it turns out, we in Johnson County — and across Wyoming — might also qualify for welfare queen status. Calls for sweeping property tax cuts continue, despite existing relief for long-term residents aged 65 and over, as well as refunds for households earning up to $107,000 annually. Before we push for further reductions, we must ask: Are we truly overtaxed, or are we already receiving more than we contribute?

The Wyoming Taxpayers Association provides a helpful online calculator to measure how much we pay in taxes versus how much we receive in public services. The results are striking.

A family of two in Buffalo, earning twice the median income and living in a $600,000 home with two vehicles, pays less than $8,000 in taxes while receiving nearly $21,000 in public services. That means they receive $13,000 annually in services essentially for free.

For a family of four with two children in school, the numbers are even more dramatic. This household receives over $74,500 in government-funded services while paying just over $8,000 in taxes — a net benefit of nearly $69,500. That equates to more than $9 in services for every $1 paid in taxes.

Make no mistake: We are already benefiting from a tax system that provides significantly more than we contribute. As the legislature debates cutting property taxes, residents must recognize that lower taxes will inevitably mean fewer services.

So, what are we willing to give up? A few years ago, the city implemented a small fee to use the outdoor pool. If these tax cuts proceed, that fee will likely have to rise sharply to cover the full cost of operation. Snow removal in the county may be reduced or eliminated. Law enforcement coverage could be scaled back drastically. Cemetery fees will likely increase significantly, making the burial of loved ones vastly more expensive. Senior services—including meals on wheels, the Kaycee satellite senior center, and the KATS and BATS bus services—could see severe reductions or disappear entirely.

Nobody likes paying taxes. But before we demand lower rates, we must ask ourselves: Are we prepared for the consequences? If we continue to expect public services, we must be willing to pay for them. Otherwise, the very services that make our communities safe, livable and supportive will be at risk. The choice is ours — but it comes at a significant cost. That cost may be more than we can stomach.