In 1937, the first state wide sales and use taxes were adopted by the Wyoming Legislature and it appears that the first sharing of this revenue with local government commenced in 1967 whereby one sixth of the revenue produced was so shared. At the same time local sales taxes were preempted by the state. Then came industrial development and impact in the 1970's. The legislature appointed a select committee to study and develop legislation which would lessen impact from development in political subdivisions which included more extensive state revenue sharing with local governments and revenues for local capital construction needs. Senator Cliff Hansen was successful in obtaining a larger share of federal mineral royalties for Wyoming and the increased revenues were also shared with local governments to pay for the impact costs of the increased industrial development.
Municipalities are much more of a factor in delivering or affecting the delivery of state services.
The new prison in Rawlins is having problems attracting a sufficient work force to staff the prison. This appears to be due not only to salary levels but the availability of affordable housing in Rawlins for staff and their families. Rawlins has the statutory capability to develop low income housing which could meet the need until such time as the private sector can come up with the capital to provide for this need. The increased numbers of prison staff and their families will also require increased outlays by the City of Rawlins and Carbon County. Public health services, including food inspections and the like, are delivered locally even though the State Department of Health, Department of Agriculture and Department of Environmental Quality all are charged with primary responsibilities in this same area.