State funding to be divided up based on new formula

Wyoming’s cities, towns and counties will get $105 million in state funding in the coming biennium. While that is less than before, it’s not as low as it was originally set to be as the state was preparing to make budget cuts across the board. 

In December, Gov. Matt Mead recommended $90 million to be divided between Wyoming’s 99 incorporate cities and towns in the 2017-18 biennium — a sharp decrease from the $183 million that was provided in the current biennium. 

Last week, the House concurred with the joint conference committee report to adopt the Madden formula with 5 percent going to the lower half of the “most needy cities” in the state, said Rep. Dan Laursen. 

Basically, it is based on population and then financial need on a per capita basis so that the poorer half gets around 5 percent extra funding. 

This formula means additional revenue cuts for all of the cities and towns in Park County. They are as follows:

• Powell’s share dropped from $559,521 to $530,897.

• Cody’s share dropped from $728,657 to $691,059.

• Meeteetse’s share dropped from $49,424 to $47,862.

“It hurts Park County in general, but at the same time at least it is something,” said Rep. Sam Krone, R-Cody, noting that going into a free committee meant there was a time when it was possible the funding wouldn’t have come at all.

The old distribution formula was a flat rate for all entities with more sent to areas with higher populations. 

“Then the House side had an amendment from (Rep.) Mike Madden (R-Buffalo) that put it so the poorer communities would get more funding,” Krone said. 

The Senate agreed with the $105 million, but not on how it was going to be distributed so it ended up in a free committee on Thursday before getting resolved on Friday. 

The Wyoming Association of Municipalities spoke on behalf of the cities, towns and counties, urging the Legislature to approve the $105 million in February, said Powell City Councilman John Wetzel. This amount was basically the barebones minimum needed to keep the gears turning across the state for the local governments, particularly the smaller communities with populations less than 500.