CHEYENNE - Wyoming voters favor broad-based property tax relief for all homeowners, according to a Casper Star-Tribune poll.

The results of the poll of 625 registered voters show that 42 percent favor property tax relief for all homeowners, while 27 percent prefer tax relief for only senior citizens. Fifteen percent of voters believe no action is necessary, and 10 percent want relief only for homeowners in rapidly growing counties.

The poll by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research of Washington, D.C., was conducted Jan. 18-21. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Deanna Merritt of Thayne said she favors a property tax relief for all homeowners.

"I'd like to see it for everybody, regardless of income," she said Monday.

Property assessments in Lincoln County have nearly doubled in the last two years, she said.

"We have farmland, and it's just getting to the point that it's not worth keeping it. There's no money in farming, and property taxes are going up so much that after a while you don't have a choice except to get rid of your land," Merritt said.

Tim Millkin of Glendo said there needs to be relief for homeowners in places such as Teton County. He suggested a freeze on assessed valuation in high-property-value areas.

"That would be the most common-sense approach," he said.

Millkin said a rancher whose family has been on a ranch for 100 years should not have to pay taxes on what the ranch is worth today.

State House Speaker Roy Cohee, R-Casper, said he was surprised that more people didn't favor broad-based tax relief.

"We've seen some fairly dramatic increases statewide over the past seven or eight years," Cohee said, referring to property tax bills.

He said he would want any relief program to be targeted to people who need it.

"If the state knew it was going to be flush with mineral wealth for the next 100 years…," he added. "But we don't know that."

Rep. Tom Lubnau, R-Gillette, said Monday he was surprised that as many as 15 percent of voters believe no property tax relief is needed, because people don't like to pay taxes.

He said he believes some targeted relief is appropriate for seniors, coupled with means testing - a determination of financial need.

"I'm sensitive to people at risk of losing the old family homestead because they can't pay the taxes," Lubnau said. "But I'm also sensitive to the fact that some of the wealthiest people in the world are buying property in Wyoming and are complaining about having to pay their fair share of the taxes."

The Joint Interim Revenue Committee has been working on a bill to expand an existing property tax relief program to make more homeowners eligible. Although the program is not age-limited, it requires means testing of homeowners.

Sen. Jim Anderson, R-Glenrock, a co-chairman of the committee, said Monday the group will look at other bills when the session opens Feb. 11.

One broad-based proposal is sponsored by Rep. Keith Gingery, R-Jackson, to exempt $5,000 of the value of a $100,000 home for all homeowners. It would cost the state $28 million per year.

The committee members objected to a bill proposed by Gov. Dave Freudenthal and sponsored by Rep. Debbie Hammons, D-Worland, because it would give property tax relief to seniors over age 65 regardless of income.

Rep. Lisa Shepperson, R-Casper, said any property tax help should be targeted to the people who need it the most. She said she has only received one or two calls from her constituents on property tax relief.