The Tax Reform 2000 Committee and the Business Council will continue to keep each other informed. Terry Swenson, Heart Mountain Farm Supply and Jim Browning, Powell Equipment, Inc. informed the committee of the problems faced by businesses in Wyoming s northern tier of counties due to Montana s lack of a sales tax. It is difficult for businesses to be competitive with Montana businesses, and any increase in Wyoming s sales tax could cause a loss of businesses and jobs in these counties. They encouraged stricter enforcement of the Wyoming s use tax law. Lyle French and Regan Smith, both farmers in the Powell area, described the plight of agriculture in today s economy.
Prices are down from two decades ago and expenses are up.
Smith and French both requested tax relief for agriculture. Currently, agriculture pays an annual property tax on their farm equipment and an initial sales tax on the same equipment when it is purchased. They also believe the state should look at expenditures including the cost of education. Answering a comment made by Smith that agriculture turns a dollar over many times in an economy contrary to the situation in Teton County, Grant Larson clarified that the tourist dollar does turn over many times in Teton County. Executive Director Archibald reviewed the gross receipts taxes of New Mexico and Hawaii and the Business and Occupation tax in Washington.