Educational Notice on Property Tax Funding and Weed & Pest Programs
Weed and Pest Control Districts in Wyoming are special districts established by state statute, not county departments. They were created under the Wyoming Weed and Pest Control Act in 1973 and are governed locally by boards appointed by county commissioners. Each district is responsible for carrying out legally mandated programs to manage noxious weeds and pests that impact agriculture, natural resources, infrastructure, wildlife habitat, and public lands statewide
How Weed & Pest Districts Are Funded
Districts rely on a property tax mill levy as their primary source of base funding. This levy is authorized under Wyoming statute and is separate from county or municipal mill levies. By law, these funds may only be used to carry out weed and pest control responsibilities outlined in statute
This base funding is critical because it allows districts to:
- Operate year-round programs required under state law
- Employ trained staff and maintain equipment
- Provide required matching funds for state, federal, and grant programs
- Access tens of millions of dollars in external funding that cannot be used without a local match
Special districts do not receive sales tax revenue and do not have alternative general fund sources to replace lost property tax revenue
Why Property Tax Policy Changes Matter
Proposed changes to property tax policy may reduce the amount of revenue available through mill levies. According to statewide reporting, reductions to this base funding could limit a district’s ability to:
- Meet statutory obligations under the Weed and Pest Control Act
- Leverage outside funding sources that require local matching dollars
- Maintain existing control programs for invasive species and pests, such as cost-share programs (e.g., grasshopper, cheatgrass, leafy spurge, and/or prairie dog control) implemented within the county.
- Respond effectively to emerging or rapidly spreading infestations
This concern applies not only to Weed and Pest Control Districts, but to all special districts across Wyoming that are structured similarly and all entities funded primarily through property tax levies. (e.g., school districts, towns, hospital districts, fire protection districts, library districts, and other statutorily created special districts funded in whole or in part by property tax levies)
Documented Impacts of Weed & Pest Programs
Statewide analyses show that invasive weeds and pests already cost Wyoming tens of millions of dollars annually, with significantly higher projected losses if management programs are reduced or eliminated. These impacts affect agriculture, recreation, wildlife habitat, transportation corridors, and local economies
The documents linked below provide detailed information on:
- How districts are funded
- Statutory requirements and limitations
- Current and potential funding challenges
- Documented economic and ecological impacts
- The role of local funding in securing state and federal support
These materials are provided for public information and transparency purposes only.
Document Links
Weed & Pest District Funding and Economic Impacts (White Paper)
This document explains how Weed and Pest Control Districts are structured, how they are funded, and summarizes economic impact data related to invasive species management in Wyoming.
Wyoming Weed & Pest Council Legislative Report (2024)
This statutorily required report provides a comprehensive overview of district funding models, current challenges, grant and partnership funding, and statewide program impacts for the most recent biennium.