The ultimate form of local control — The Third Side

A recent conversation between citizens of Weston County and the county commissioners about the future of the Weston County Fairgrounds may have revealed something more important than a solution to a local budget problem. It may have pointed to a path forward for communities across Wyoming.

During that discussion, commission Chair Nathan Todd said something refreshingly straightforward: if the public says "we cut here and pay more here, I guess that's what we as a board need to know."

That statement captures the essence of local control. But knowing what citizens want is only half of the equation. The other half is connecting those desires to the dollars necessary to make them happen.

The most honest way to do that may be through the creation of voter‑approved special tax districts dedicated to specific community purposes.

In other words, if citizens want something badly enough, they should be able to vote to pay for it.

It is the ultimate "put your money where your mouth is" opportunity.

And there may be no better time to consider it.

Local governments across Wyoming have been sounding alarms about the effects of property tax reductions passed by the Legislature and another significant decrease that will appear on the ballot this fall. Many local officials have been urging voters to think carefully before approving additional tax relief.

That may be sound advice. But perhaps local governments should shift some of their energy away from trying to stop tax cuts and toward working with the Legislature to expand the authority of communities to raise revenue themselves — with voter approval.

When I served on the school board, I often told my fellow trustees that the best way to achieve local control was to stop asking the state to write us checks.

If the state collects less property tax revenue, the logical next step is to allow communities greater flexibility to generate their own funding streams for things they truly value and priorities that residents decide are truly worth the investment.

Citizens would know exactly where their tax dollars were going. And elected officials would no longer have to guess what the public actually supports.

Commissioner Marty Ertman noted that the Legislature would likely need to be involved to allow something like the fairgrounds to fall under a special taxation district. At present, Wyoming law places restrictions on the creation of such districts.

But if the state intends to reduce the amount of revenue it collects and redistributes, it makes sense to give counties and municipalities — and more importantly the citizens who live there — greater authority to raise funds locally.

The economic challenges facing the Weston County Fairgrounds are not unique. Similar pressures exist across the state. Counties and cities are being asked to do more with less while voters simultaneously demand both lower taxes and strong community amenities.

Special districts could help resolve that tension.

Instead of relying on statewide formulas or legislative appropriations, communities could determine for themselves what matters most — and how much they are willing to pay for it.

If residents believe their fairgrounds are essential to the life of the county, they could approve a dedicated revenue source to sustain them. If they believe libraries, senior centers, or emergency response deserve additional resources, they could vote accordingly.

That is real local control.

It removes the bureaucratic middleman and places the decision exactly where it belongs — in the hands of the people who live with the consequences.

Perhaps the ongoing debate about property taxes presents an opportunity rather than a crisis. If statewide taxes are reduced, communities could replace a portion of that revenue with targeted local funding mechanisms that reflect their own priorities.

Some communities might choose to tax themselves more for specific services. Others might choose to live with less.

Both choices are legitimate — as long as the people making them are the ones paying the bill.

For years, Wyoming leaders have championed the idea of local control. This may be the moment to truly embrace it.