Governor Mark Gordon visited with hundreds of affected landowners, local elected officials, emergency responders, and the public in Sheridan, Gillette, and Wheatland on Monday to outline his $130 million supplemental budget request for wildfire restoration and recovery efforts. During his visits, the Governor heard loud and clear from the 200+ attendees – landowners need grants, not loans, to help rebuild from the historic impacts of the 2024 fire season.
The Governor’s original $130 million budget recommendation, currently before the Wyoming Legislature, is to assist in restoring landscapes and serves as a backstop to the current federal, state, and insurance programs. It would be administered by the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust Fund (WWNRT).
The Governor’s proposal was put forward to the Joint Appropriations Committee, where the Committee slashed funding to $100 million and transformed it to a loan program, administered through the Office of State Lands and Investments (OSLI) with 2% interest. That proposal heads to the Wyoming House of Representatives and the Senate for debate and amendments.
“I have grave concerns about a loan program for fire restoration and recovery. I understand the Legislature’s intent with the proposal, but there is a lack of understanding of the circumstances on the ground,” Governor Gordon said. “We need a program that is flexible and responsive to your needs. A loan program does not do that.”
The Governor identified several issues with a loan program, the first of which is when borrowing money from the State of Wyoming, the state must have first mortgage rights, and banks must subordinate other loans.
“No one should want to complicate existing loans, compromise operating loans or take banks out of the scenario,” Governor Gordon told attendees. “A loan program is impractical, could take landowners out of other loans, and overextend you. That would be just as bad as the fire the first time.”
Bob Budd, director of the WWNRT, joined the Governor to discuss the need for grants for thoughtfully treating terrestrial invasive species, like cheatgrass, Medusahead and ventenata.
“You can’t go to a Weed and Pest District and ask them to treat invasive grasses on a loan,” Director Budd said. “There is a public benefit to restoring native rangeland – for wildlife, for agriculture, and for future fire prevention.”
Jennifer Doering, OSLI Assistant Director of Administrative Services, added to the discussion with information regarding Wyoming’s Mineral Royalty Grant (MRG) Program. This funding is available to local governments to alleviate emergency situations and support essential public services. The Governor has requested $20 million in additional funds to this account, distributed through the State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB).
The Governor discussed the possibility of the Legislature moving toward a split program, with a portion of dollars going toward grants and another portion for loans.
“We could see the Legislature move toward a loan program for infrastructure on a case-by-case basis where appropriate, and grants for invasive treatments which demonstrate broad public benefit,” Governor Gordon said. “Loans are just not likely to be practical for wide-scale projects like those we have in front of us.”
The Wyoming Grants Management Office has resources available to landowners who are navigating federal assistance and other programs for wildfire recovery. A step-by-step guide can help point affected landowners to a place to start and how to work through available options. The Governor’s grant program proposal is intended to provide a backstop once landowners have exhausted federal resources first.
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