Wyoming Lawmakers Consider ‘Menu’ of New Taxes

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — A Wyoming interim legislative panel is looking at proposals that would raise new revenue for the cash-strapped state.

Five of the proposals before the Joint Revenue Committee would raise existing taxes.

The proposals offered include broadening the sales tax, raising the property tax, adding a temporary half-percent sales tax, increasing the tax on wine and spirits, increasing the beer tax and finding a new way to tax tourism.

Committee co-chairman Rep. Mike Madden, of Buffalo, says not all the proposals are going to move forward.

The Legislature's leadership tasked the Revenue Committee with recommending three proposals to raise revenue.

The state is currently facing a $530 million deficit in the education fund for the two-year budget cycle that begins next year.