What this office does: They are responsible for determining fair market value for all taxable property using industry-accepted appraisal procedures. The assessor does not establish the dollar amount of taxes, the rate, nor bill or collect them — voting taxpayers, county commissioners, state law, and assessed values together impact the taxable amount. Wyoming statute requires the assessor to be a certified property tax appraiser with the Wyoming Department of Revenue. They serve a 4-year term.
Why it matters: Property valuation affects homeowners, businesses, and local revenues. Taxation rates are set elsewhere, the assessed value is assessed by this office.
NOTE: Property taxes in Wyoming DO NOT fund the state government. They fund the local services– schools, fire protection, libraries, and county services like roads. Unlike states with income taxes, Wyoming relies heavily on property values to generate this local funding, which means the number the assessor puts on your home or land directly determines how much money your school district and community have to work with. When assessed values go up or down, every local service and property owner feels it.