As ideological divisions continue to shape Wyoming’s legislative landscape, a new proposal aims to limit how local governments spend taxpayer money — specifically on dues to statewide associations that sometimes push back against legislative proposals, WyoFile reports.
Leading the charge is Rep. Marlene Brady (R-Green River), who argues that cities, towns, and counties should no longer be allowed to use public funds to support membership in organizations such as the Wyoming County Commissioners Association (WCCA) and the Wyoming Association of Municipalities (WAM). These associations, she claims, use taxpayer dollars to advocate against bills brought forth by elected representatives.
“We’ve seen them go and lobby against nearly every bill that the people put forward — using taxpayer dollars,” Brady said during a May 9 meeting of the Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee in Lander. “That is unacceptable. We are tired of it.”
Brady’s proposal, backed by the conservative Wyoming Freedom Caucus, seeks to curtail what she describes as misuse of public funds for political advocacy. She emphasized that the intent is not to eliminate such associations but to require local officials to pay for their own memberships.
However, more than 20 local leaders — including mayors, commissioners, attorneys, treasurers, and clerks — testified in strong opposition to the proposal. They argued that these associations serve as critical resources, offering training, legislative tracking, legal guidance, and networking that smaller jurisdictions can’t otherwise afford.
Pinedale Mayor Matt Murdock reflected on his first WAM conference over a decade ago, describing it as “amazing” for its practical, nonpartisan education.
“When I see people trying to quiet the local voice, it just irks the heck out of me,” he said.
Casper Mayor Ray Pacheco also underscored the broader implications, framing the issue as one of local autonomy.
“This is about local control,” he said. “When we prohibit cities and towns from voluntarily joining associations like WAM, we weaken that self-governance.”
Supporters of the associations highlighted their contributions to both governance and policy. Natalia Macker, president of WCCA and a Teton County commissioner, said the group helps ensure that legislation avoids “unfunded mandates and unintended consequences.”
These groups also serve as liaisons with federal agencies, state legislators, and other stakeholders. Macker noted that the WCCA operates with a mix of membership dues, partnerships, and self-generated revenue. Membership dues are tiered based on county size — from several hundred dollars in small towns to $36,000 in larger counties like Teton.
WAM uses a similar sliding scale. Casper, one of the largest cities in Wyoming, pays roughly $55,000 in dues — a mere 0.028% of its $193 million city budget.
Casper City Manager Carter Napier called it a “high-value investment,” especially considering the level of legislative and legal support the association provides.
Despite the testimony, Brady remained unconvinced, questioning the motivations of those who spoke in favor of the associations.
“I would venture to guess that everyone who testified is being paid,” she said, implying a conflict of interest.
She also cited other states as models for prohibiting public funding of such organizations, claiming that 18 states have similar restrictions. However, Sen. Bill Landen (R-Casper) challenged that claim, citing the National Conference of State Legislatures’ database, which showed otherwise.
Constitutional concerns also surfaced. Rep. Mike Yin (D-Jackson) questioned whether the state should control how local governments allocate their budgets. Rep. Gary Brown (R-Cheyenne) pointed to the state constitution, which grants the Legislature authority to oversee public accounts — a point Yin met with a sardonic response:
“I’m excited to do more micromanagement.”
Although the committee took no formal action on May 9, members voted via straw poll to continue the discussion at their August 14 meeting in Casper. As part of that session, they will revisit a 2021 proposal to restrict taxpayer-funded lobbying.
