The Equality state's murky future

TO THE EDITOR

Attention has been focused toward the upcoming budget session for some time—really for over a year given the national economy and Wyoming’s decline in commodity prices, jobs, and tax revenues.

Obviously, government spending, like the private sector, will continue to tighten. Cities, towns and counties will mount a full charge for help, and yet per capita state and local government spending (including education) is substantially higher in Wyoming than elsewhere — in 1998 we were 33 percent above the regional average; in 2008, 59 percent. There will be other issues as well — wind development, I-80 tolling, carbon sequestration, use of the Rainy Day account, etc.

There is no choice but to muddle through with less revenue. But what about looking to the future, say about the next 10 or 20 years?

What will be, in the words of health care expert Ron Grady who spoke at the Wyoming Business Alliance/Wyoming Heritage Foundation Wyoming November Forum (Stimulating Wyoming’s Economic Vines), the Black Swan events? Horrendous forest fires that would daunt the Big Burn (Egan’s book/ some three million acres in 1910) and the 1988 Yellowstone fires (790,000 acres)? Continued drought in the west and southwest and calls on the Colorado River compact which includes Wyoming water? Cap and trade/CO2 reductions which could erode by 20 percent or more Wyoming’s coal production to the tune of $300 million yearly in tax revenues? Potentially crippling effects from ozone reductions, sage grouse or other environmental protections in a state with 50 percent federal surface ownership? State budget reliant on minerals and sparse other taxing means that is not sustainable over time?

What we do, and can or should expect, is that there will be Black Swans nationally like earthquakes or terrorism attacks and ones in Wyoming like those postulated above. Add to this unrest across the country — the public, business community, non-profits and state and local governments who are about health care, the economy, national debt, energy affordability, and the uneasy influence of Washington decisions and in-fighting.

Here in Wyoming the current state administration and legislature have invested, and invested wisely, in a number of lasting legacies — Hathaway Plan, Wildlife Trust Fund, Business Ready and Community Facilities, Tourism Marketing, NCAR, and the School of Energy Resources to name a few.

Looking ahead 10-20 years, what should be the most important state investments for a state which in recent years has deliberately, intentionally or otherwise, offset some of the effects of Washington and internationally driven uncertainties?

Should it be more water storage or a trans-basin diversion project, a health care initiative somewhat similar to the successful Massachusetts plan; or creation of a standing state legislature public/federal lands committee as a strategic offense/defense? Will it be a university of five or more of the very best ranked fields of study for any public institution in the Rocky Mountain Region and the state with the highest high school graduation rates?

The legislative session will be speedy and intense. There will be many debates. Looking to the future maybe an opportunity can be found for collective and wide spread discussion, and resolve, to launch additional practical initiatives to sustain the state’s economy and quality of life. Human nature as such gravitates toward concrete positives — recent lasting legacies like Hathaway and new ones to rally behind in the future.

Bill Schilling
President
Wyoming Business Alliance
Wyoming Heritage Foundation

This is part of the February 4, 2010 online edition of The Glenrock Independent.

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