Property Types


Real Property

Wyoming Statutes

Wyoming Constitution Article 15, Section 11. "(a) All property, except as in this constitution otherwise provided, shall be uniformly valued at its full value as defined by the legislature, in three (3) classes”

Wyoming Statute 39-13-103. "(b)(i) Except as otherwise provided: (A) All taxable property shall be annually listed, valued, and assessed for taxation in the county in which located and in the name of the owner of the property on January 1.

Wyoming Statute39-13-103. "(b)(ii) Property valued at fair market value. All property shall be annually valued at its fair market value. Except as otherwise provided by law for a specific property, the department (Department of Revenue) shall prescribe by rule and regulation the appraisal methods and systems for determining market value using generally accepted appraisal standards."

Wyoming Statute 34-1-142 thru 144 requires the filing of a Statement of Consideration (SOC) as part of each property transfer. These forms contain sales information. The statute also states that an individual SOC cannot be used to adjust the assessment on a property.

The System

A Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) system is the basis used in Washakie County. This is a cost system consisting of a Marshall Swift Cost Estimator supported by state enhancements. Property characteristics are collected by field appraisers and entered into the system. This data generates a Replacement Cost New (RCN). With the entry of the year of construction, effective age, and condition a Replacement Cost New Less Depreciation (RCNLD) is developed on each property in the county. Property Profile Records are maintained on each property listing specific information and including a basic sketch of the house and attachments. Information on other miscellaneous improvements such as sheds or outbuildings and pictures of the property are included. The CAMA system used in Wyoming has been validated by WY Supreme Court Decision No. 94-19, Gray vs WY SBOE, 6/9/95.

In the process of developing a market value for each property as of January 1 for a given year, sales information for an area is analyzed to develop adjustments that must be applied to the RCNLD to bring the property to its current market value. One of the first and more important areas of consideration are properties within a geographic neighborhood and their relative sales ratios. This is because the neighborhoods have been developed on Location, Economic Forces, Governmental and Social Factors, and Boundaries that group properties with similarities. Within neighborhoods, other considerations may be age, type of construction, etc. Through the use of computer programs, information gained from properties that have been sold can be used on properties not sold to achieve a fair market value for all properties.

Your Responsibility

During the month of March or April of each year Notice of Valuations are mailed to each property owner listing the estimated Market Value and Assessment. In addition, the previous year's tax and estimated tax for the current year will be listed using the previous year's Mill Levy. The previous year's information will not be listed on properties that have had changes in legal description or if they did not exist in the previous year (i.e., newly platted). Property owners have the right to appeal the values placed on their property; however, the appeal MUST be filed within 30 days of the assessment mail date. Property Profile Records are available for the owner's review to ensure the accuracy of the information used to generate the property's market value. These are available at any time for review. Our goal is to make estimates of value based on the best information available.

Formula For Tax Dollars

Fair Market Value x Level of Assessment = Assessed Value

Assessed Value x Mill Levy = Tax Dollars.


Agricultural Lands

General

W.S. 39-13-103 states:  The department of revenue shall determine the taxable value of agricultural land.  In determining the taxable value for assessment purposes, the value of agricultural land shall be based on the current use of the land, and the capability of the land to produce agricultural products, including grazing and forage, based on average yields of lands of the same classification under normal conditions.

 

Ag Land Definitions

Common questions arise in the classification of agricultural lands. Wyoming uses the following points as criteria:

Determining Productivity

There are three steps that must be satisfied to determine agricultural land productivity value:

Irrigated Crop Land

Tons of all hay per acre is the productivity measurement used for valuing irrigated cropland. This “measurement” is determined from environmental factors that affect the soil's ability to produce. These “factors,” or limitations, are published in the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service's Soil Survey – and include items such as precipitation, length of the growing season, slope, etc.

Dry Crop Land

Bushels of all wheat, per acre, are the productivity measurement used for valuing dry cropland. As with irrigated cropland, this “measurement” is determined by environmental factors that affect the soil's ability to produce. The “factors,” or limitations, are the same as those used with irrigated cropland.

Range Land

Animal Unit Months or AUMs is the productivity measurement used for valuing rangeland. The term “AUM” is defined as the amount of forage required to sustain a 1,000 pound cow, with or without a calf, for one month.

Commercial Personal Property

Background

Gathering Information

Assessments

Owner Participation