How Laramie is run
Who runs Laramie, what it costs, and where your money goes
The city manager, council pay, the budget, your property tax bill and who provides each service, from Laramie's own public documents. Every number links to its source and says which year it describes. Checked Oct 10, 2026.
Who runs Laramie
Laramie has a council-manager government. The nine-member council, three from each of three wards, sets policy and appoints the city manager, who runs day-to-day operations as chief executive. The council also appoints the city attorney and municipal judge.
What they are paid
- $500 a month vehicle allowance
- City matches up to $6,000 a year into a 457 retirement account
- Same benefits as city department directors
- $140,000 severance if fired without cause, paid over 12 months
- Up to 12 months of COBRA health premiums repaid after a no-cause firing
- Eligible for elective programs and expense reimbursement available to city employees
Laramie city staff
305 full-time-equivalent positions, including Police (general fund) 78, Fire (general fund) 54. FY2026-27. City of Laramie · Jun 16, 2026
The budget shows positions and personnel costs by department, not pay by employee. Wyoming has no statewide pay database. We name pay only for elected officials and the city manager.
Is Laramie in the red?
Cities must pass a balanced budget, so "profit" and "deficit" mean something different here. The useful questions: does the city's everyday money (the general fund) cover its everyday costs, how much does it keep in savings compared with its own target, and how big are its pension and debt bills.
The city's own outlook
The city says no reserves fund ongoing operating costs in FY2027; reserves pay for one-time items such as an expanded surface water drainage service. Risks: sales and use taxes are flat, a 25% cut in residential property taxes took effect, and the 5th Penny sales tax, 20% of general fund revenue, is on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot. City of Laramie · Jun 16, 2026
Savings against the city's own target
Unassigned general fund balance: $32.3M (2025-06-30). The city's own target: Keep a cash reserve of at least three to six months of operating spending. City of Laramie · Dec 30, 2025
Why we skip the "budgeted deficit": many cities plan to dip into savings, then spend less than planned. The audited result tells you what really happened.
Where the money comes from and goes
The general fund only: the city's everyday money for FY2026-27.
Comes from
- Sales and use tax, 4th Cent$9.1M · 20%
- Reserves for one-time costs$8M · 17%
- Sales and use tax, 5th Cent$7.7M · 17%
- State direct distribution$3.9M · 8%
- Charges for services$3M · 6%
- Property tax$2.5M · 5%
- Franchise taxes$2M · 4%
- Public safety grants and reimbursements$1.2M · 3%
- Other (state shared taxes, utility fund payments, fines, permits, auto tax, other)$8.6M · 19%
Goes to (FY2026-27)
- Police$10.6M · 23%
- Fire and EMS$9M · 20%
- Public Works$6.5M · 14%
- General government (transfers, partners, insurance)$5.9M · 13%
- Parks, Recreation and Public Services$5.5M · 12%
- Community and Economic Development$2M · 4%
- Administrative Services$1.8M · 4%
- City administration (manager, clerk, council)$1.7M · 4%
- Other (IT, city attorney, human resources)$3.1M · 7%
Your property tax bill: who gets it
The city's 8 mills is the most the Wyoming Constitution allows for its general fund. Schools take about half of the bill.
11¢
of each property-tax dollar goes to the city of Laramie
- School district36 · 49%
- Albany County14 · 19%
- State of Wyoming12 · 16%
- City of Laramie8 · 11%
- Hospital district3 · 4%
- Total (mills)73
2025 mill levies for property in the city of Laramie (Albany County). City of Laramie · Dec 30, 2025
See what a Laramie home costs each year, line by line →Who provides your services
Not everything in Laramie is run by the city. Who provides a service decides whose budget pays for it and whose election decides it.
- PoliceThe cityLaramie Police DepartmentCity of Laramie · Dec 30, 2025
- FireThe cityLaramie Fire DepartmentCity of Laramie · Dec 30, 2025
- 911 dispatchThe cityLaramie / Albany County Records and Communications (LARC) Center, Laramie Police DepartmentDispatch center for all residents of Albany CountyCity of Laramie · Jun 16, 2026
- WaterThe cityCity of LaramieCity of Laramie · Dec 30, 2025
- SewerThe cityCity of LaramieCity of Laramie · Dec 30, 2025
- Trash collection and landfillThe cityCity of LaramieCity of Laramie · Dec 30, 2025
- Parks and recreationThe cityCity of LaramieCity of Laramie · Dec 30, 2025
- StreetsThe cityCity of LaramieCity of Laramie · Dec 30, 2025
- Mosquito controlThe cityCity of LaramieCity of Laramie · Dec 30, 2025
Compared with similar cities
The cities in this state closest in population that we cover. Read it for scale, not as a ranking: cities provide different services.
| Per city | SheridanWY | Rock SpringsWY | LaramieWY | GilletteWY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 20,015 | 22,936 | 32,284 | 34,024 |
| Top administrator's base pay | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | $194,000 | Not confirmed |
| Council member pay | $12,000 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | $6,000 |
| General fund per resident | $1,163 | $1,935 | $1,423 | $1,363 |
| Debt per resident | $1,631 | $161 | $1,188 | $2,397 |
| Unfunded pension per resident | $521 | $520 | $456 | $565 |
| City staff per 1,000 residents | 10.3 | 11.5 | 9.5 | 9.4 |
Figures as shown in each city's section, divided by its population. Years differ by state, and pension figures are measured differently in each state (each city page says how).
What Laramie publishes
What a resident can find online today. A "no" is something you can ask the council to publish.
- Yes: Audited financial report filed on timeThe FY2025 audited report is dated December 30, 2025, six months after the June 30, 2025 year-end, and is posted on the city site. City of Laramie · Dec 30, 2025
- Yes: Adopted budget posted online City of Laramie · Jun 16, 2026
- Yes: City manager's contract findable onlineTodd Feezer's contract was posted in the January 20, 2026 council agenda packet. City of Laramie · Jan 20, 2026
- Yes: Council votes recorded member by member onlineCouncil minutes list each member's aye or nay vote on roll call motions. City of Laramie · Jan 20, 2026
- Yes: Council pay stated in a public documentOrdinance No. 2080 sets $150 per official meeting for council members and $300 for the mayor. City of Laramie · Feb 20, 2024
- No: Employee pay publishedWe found no pay list by employee or position. The budget shows personnel costs by department only. City of Laramie · Jun 16, 2026
Questions to ask your council
- General fund unassigned reserves were $32.3 million on June 30, 2025, and the council has since committed part of its reserves to 6th Penny tax projects. How much will remain above the three-to-six-month reserve policy?
- The 5th Penny sales tax provides 20% of general fund revenue and is on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot. What would the city change if it fails?
- The FY2027 general fund budget of $45.9 million exceeds forecast revenue of $38.0 million, with reserves covering one-time costs. Which items would be deferred if reserves are needed elsewhere?
The fiscal year starts July 1. The FY2027 recommended budget was released April 30, 2026. Council held work sessions May 7, 12 and 14 and a special meeting May 26 to amend it, then held the public hearing and adopted the budget by resolution June 16, 2026. See who is running for council
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