Wednesday, OCTOBER 15, 2025 |

Photo – Reading area in library – Bigfoot99 file photo

The Public Library Board of Carbon County is asking towns to find ways to preserve their local branches.

In March, the Wyoming State Legislature passed a series of relief bills to help residents manage rising property taxes. The increases are largely fueled by out-of-state buyers purchasing homes at above-average prices during the COVID-19 pandemic, driving up assessed values for everyone. Under the new measures, all Wyoming homeowners received a 25% reduction on residential property taxes for the first $1 million of assessed value on their homes and associated lands this year. Seniors aged 65 and older who have lived in their homes for at least 25 years are also eligible for a 50% reduction in their property taxes.

Altogether, the state-backed property tax relief programs have cost Carbon County an estimated $500,000 in lost revenue. The resulting shortfall has caused the Board of County Commissioners to reduce funding for all outside agencies, including the Carbon County Library System, which saw a 53% drop in revenue. Funding fell from $350,964 in 2024 to $164,452 this fiscal year.

The large reduction in funding has left the Public Library Board of Carbon County scrambling to cover operational costs for its eight municipal branches. Board Chairwoman Adelaide Myers has been visiting towns to personally ask the governing bodies to increase their financial support for their local libraries, to avoid cuts to operating hours or possible closures.

On Monday evening, Library Board Chairwoman Myers addressed the Medicine Bow Town Council during their regularly scheduled meeting. Myers explained that the Library System is partially funded by the Carbon County Library Foundation and local Friends of the Library groups. However, Myers said those organizations cannot cover the day-to-day operating costs of the individual branches.

Myers said the Carbon County Library System received a $9,000 grant from the Wyoming Community Foundation to help pay for utilities and employee salaries but added that the appropriation is unlikely to be renewed next year. Additionally, Myers said County Commissioner Sue Jones secured a $50,000 grant from Rocky Mountain Power and PacifiCorp for the Hanna and Medicine Bow libraries, on the condition that they remain open despite plans to shut them down on September 30th. Furthermore, Myers announced that the recent Embrace the Valley fundraiser generated over $100,000 in grants and donations, which may allow the Library Board to allocate additional funding for branches outside of the Platte Valley.

Myers said the Library Board is looking into alternative ways to maintain library access in Hanna and Medicine Bow, including the possibility of a bookmobile to replace the physical branches until tax revenues stabilize.

Myers said that unless the state legislature changes how property tax relief programs are administered, the Carbon County Library System is set to lose even more funding in the coming fiscal year, further limiting library access across the county.

Myers said the Library Board is considering all available options to keep each library open, including the possibility of municipalities taking over their local branches. The Library Board Chairwoman said the Medicine Bow branch costs the Carbon County Library System nearly $18,000 this fiscal year, an admittedly small percentage of the Library System’s overall budget.

Without support from the Carbon County Library Foundation and the Town of Medicine Bow, which covers water, sewer, snow removal, mowing, garbage collection, and mosquito abatement, the local branch would have cost the Library System $28,518 this fiscal year. Myers said the financial burden is unsustainable, necessitating additional cuts in the future.

Medicine Bow Mayor Justin George asked how each library’s share of the overall budget is determined. Library Board Chairwoman Myers said former Library System Director Maria Wenzel based allocations on the number of books in the individual collections. Myers added that the new Library Director may choose a different approach, but the Board is not pushing for major changes during the current budget crunch.

Councilwoman Kristi Wickizer asked Myers how the town can help ensure its local branch remains open. The Library Board Chairwoman said additional funding would help but was unable to provide a specific figure. However, Myers reiterated that the cost to operate the branch is roughly $18,000, a small sum in the grand scheme of things.

Councilwoman Wickizer asked if employing a librarian from Medicine Bow could help reduce the overall cost of operating the local branch. Myers said yes but mentioned the difficulty of finding qualified applicants. Responding to the Councilwoman’s question about job qualifications, Myers said formal training is not necessary to serve as a librarian.

Myers said internet is another large expense for the Medicine Bow Library, totaling $1,100 a year. The governing body was surprised by the statement, prompting Councilwoman Wickizer to mention that the town pays $53 a month, or $636 per year. The Library Board Chairwoman said she will look into the possibility of switching the branch’s internet provider.

Finally, Myers said the Wyoming Joint Revenue Committee will meet on November 18th to discuss additional property tax cuts. The Library Board Chairwoman encouraged everyone in attendance to reach out to Representatives Larry Hicks and Bob Davis, both of whom opposed the current set of tax relief measures and ask them to pressure the Joint Revenue Committee to consider ways to offset the negative effects of the legislation.