LANDER - As problems go, the Fremont County commissioners have one that other Wyoming counties might envy: How do you spend revenues driven by a $1.3 billion assessed valuation and a 500 percent increase in property tax revenues since 1995?

"We do have a lot of projects," said Lanny Applegate, chairman of the board of commissioners.

Long term, Fremont County has at least $40 million worth of work that needs to be done on roads and bridges over the next five to 10 years, Applegate said. There's also been an expressed need for a new county complex in Riverton - what Applegate calls a "one-stop shop" for just about every county office and function except for a detention center. Currently, county offices are scattered throughout Riverton.

Problem is, there's nowhere near enough money in current tax revenues to pay for those big-ticket projects, he said - at least not yet.

That's why Applegate wants to push for a 12-mill property tax levy - the maximum allowed - in order to sock away enough money to pay for those big items that are just over the horizon. Up until now, tax levies have been in the 11-mill neighborhood for years.

"We need to put money away while we have this boom," Applegate said, "because booms don't last forever."

County Assessor Eileen Oakley said that at the 11-mill mark, a home valued at $100,000 would pay taxes of $745.08 for the year. All else remaining equal, an increase to 12 mills would mean an extra $9.50 in taxes for that homeowner, or a yearly bill of $754.58. Similarly, 100 acres of irrigated land would see a tax increase of $8.59, while 100 acres of grazing land would see an increase of 89 cents, she said.

But the commissioners aren't deferring all big-ticket items off into an indefinite future. They've got plenty on their plate right now, including requests for:

* $2.8 million for the Pioneer Museum in Lander.

* $5.9 million for a library expansion in Lander.

* $754,000 to repave the county fairgrounds parking lot in Riverton.

* $9.4 million in road projects for fiscal year 2007 - above and beyond the $4.7 million in current projects around the county.

Commissioners and county officials have held hearings on infrastructure needs and will discuss salaries for county employees.

"My guess is that county employees will see a 3 to 6 percent increase," Applegate said. He readily acknowledged that there are differing philosophies on the board - that some commissioners would like to see a cost-of-living increase, as well as a base salary raise. Other commissioners favor cost-of-living adjustment and nothing more.

After salary increases are reviewed by the board, Applegate said the overall budget for 2007 will get a good going over, with a final recommendation emerging sometime in July.

"That's when I think we need to sit down and do some long-range planning," Applegate said. "We're currently blessed with high valuations. We have to start setting money aside so we can meet future needs."

Brodie Farquhar is a freelance writer based in Lander. He can be reached at {M3brodiefarquhar@hotmail.com.