• State program expanded to qualify more residents.
The application window is now open for the statewide property tax refund program — and local legislative and Lincoln County officials want residents here to apply by June 3 to get a big chunk of the $20 million Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has set aside.
“The one thing I’ve heard about since I was elected is, ‘Do something about our property taxes,’” said Rep. Lane Allred (R-Afton), who explained that’s just what the legislature has done through last year’s House Bill #4. By expanding the program this year, he said, they’ve “opened the window so more people could qualify” for property tax refunds.
Rep. Allred and Lincoln County Treasurer Jerry Greenfield spoke of the property tax refund program — and its short application window — during SVI Radio’s Weekday Wake-up program with Duke Dance. “At the end of the day,” Greenfield said during the program last week, “I want to help the governor spend all $20 million that he set aside. That’s my goal. So, Lincoln County, let’s all apply.”
Rep. Allred and Treasurer Greenfield explained the expanded property tax refund program and how Star Valley residents can take advantage. There are now two levels with your adjusted federal income tax return: $115,000 and $134,000. “If you’re under $115,000,” Greenfield related, “you can get up to 75 percent or the maximum of $1,060. If you’re under $134,000, you can get up to 65 of the 75 percent back.
“So please apply,” he urged. “This has to be into the state by June 3. It’s a pretty short window to get all of this done, so that’s the reason we’re hammering this pretty hard.”
To get the word out, the treasurer’s office has been holding workshops throughout the county, mainly at senior centers. However, both Rep. Allred and Greenfield emphasized this is not senior program — it’s for all residents who pay property taxes. “This is an opportunity to get some money back,” Greenfield said. “This is an opportunity from your county treasurer who usually looks at you to pay taxes. We’re going to try to get you some back.”
Rep. Allred said he recently spoke with a single mother who applied and received a refund on her property taxes.
Greenfield said the process is relatively simple. The application takes into account your income and certain assets, but he reminded residents that the expanded program has “opened up that window even broader for a lot more people to apply.”
There are applications at both the Kemmerer and Afton treasurer’s offices and trained employees to help with the process. In addition, anybody who has applied in the past for property tax refund should have gotten an application in the mail from the state.
“We want to see how much of that $20 million we can get here in Lincoln County,” Greenfield added. “There are five total senior centers throughout the county, and I’m going to hit every one of them. We’ve set up five workshops in Kemmerer, Afton, Thayne and Alpine, and another Chamber of Commerce meeting here in Afton.”
To attend the workshops on the new property tax refund program, see https://svinews.com/event/
