Numerous public issues were addressed during a Clark town hall, but a “people’s initiative” aimed at possibly reducing property tax bills by 50% emerged as the predominant topic.

The nearly two-hour long gathering, attended by more than 40 people, was held in the Clark Pioneer Recreation Center on Thursday evening, Nov. 9. Co-hosts were state Sen. Tim French (R-Powell) and Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams (R-Cody).

Besides the state legislators, the primary speaker was Cody resident Brent Bien, who outlined a “people’s petition” that has been certified by the Wyoming secretary of state. The ballot initiative, if successful, would allow homeowners to have their property taxed at 50% of its assessed value. Bien, who ran for governor in 2022, has joined with Cheryl Augiar and Rich Weber to place the “BCR people’s petition” on a forthcoming ballot.

“It’s all about freedom and liberty,” said Bien. He stated that during his campaign last year he found that “the residential property tax is (up) from 16-18% statewide” and that in Park County there was a rise this year “from 20-25%.”

He said the initiative, if it makes it onto a statewide ballot and voters approve, would allow homeowners in Wyoming to have their entire property taxed at 50% of its assessed value.

“An applicant would have to be a resident of the state for at least a year,” he said, “and an owner of a home for at least six months. After signing a sworn claim on a first application, the property owner would only have to call the state to get a property tax exemption again in following years.

“An applicant could only use the exemption for a primary residence and can only receive an exemption on one property, with only one exemption allowed per property.”

He noted that 30,000 signatures are needed by February, representing 15% of 16 counties. Many of those attending the town hall signed the petition on the spot.

French and Williams indicated their support for accomplishing property tax reduction. They said that they also will continue their efforts, which have been unsuccessful so far, to lessen the tax burden. Both said there are some in office who are supposed to be Republicans, but who vote as liberals. That has made it difficult, they said, to attain their goal.

Another significant matter, broached by Williams, is President Joe Biden’s “30-by-30” executive order. His goal is to “conserve 30% of U.S. land and waters by 2030.”

The overall intent, said French and Williams, is a supposed “solution to global climate change (allowing) the federal government to acquire more private land to take it out of production and eliminate all use on federal land.” This would result, the legislators said, in total federal control of an additional 440 million acres of land or oceans in the United States by 2030.

Another area of concern during the informal event involved Gov. Mark Gordon, who is being asked to defend his “carbon negative” view of Wyoming’s climate change goals, after mentioning the goal recently during a talk at Harvard University. The legislators said Gordon, when seeking his re-election, “did not mention a “Green Energy” idea, and said state residents should have a say on that goal.

French and Williams also alerted the audience to a proposed Wyoming Game and Fish project that would impact some local streams. Game and Fish is seeking instream flow water rights for segments of Crandall Creek, Dead Indian Creek and Muddy Creek in the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River Basin.

“All three segments are entirely on public lands,” the legislators said. “The proposed water rights are important to maintaining populations of Yellowstone cutthroat trout in their native range.”

They said the public needs to be aware of the matter and provide input.

Clark resident Larry Dodge did provide some input on a potential issue.

He expressed concern over the Stafford Act, signed into law in 1988, which gives the president the power to declare a national emergency in response to a national disaster with subsequent, possible confiscation of property.

The legislators thanked those who attended and said they will continue to work for the people through a realistic budget process.

“We don’t have a budget problem,” said French. “We have a spending problem.”