First Class Cities

Wyo. Stat. Ann. tit. 15, ch. 3
in effect

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-3-101 Population requirement; issuance of proclamation; receipt as evidence.

If it is ascertained that any city or town has attained a population of more than four thousand (4,000) inhabitants and that fact is certified to the governor by the mayor of the city or town, attested by its seal, the governor, by public proclamation, shall declare the city or town to be a city of the first class. The proclamation shall be published by the city for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the city. A certified copy of the proclamation shall be recorded in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the city is situated. The record of the proclamation shall be received as evidence of the organization and corporate existence of the city as a city of the first class in any court within the state.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-3-102 Name; service of process.

The corporate name of each first class city is the city of ...., and the city by that name has perpetual succession. All process whatever affecting any such city shall be served upon the mayor or acting mayor, or, in the absence of both, upon the city clerk.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-3-103 Rights to remain in effect.

No right of property accrued to any city or town, corporation or person under any law previously in force is affected by a city or town becoming a first class city. All ordinances not in conflict with this chapter shall continue in force until amended or repealed by the governing body. Any city or town becoming a first class city retains all its trusts, rights, privileges and indebtedness. All actions commenced by or against any city or town which becomes a first class city shall be continued to final judgment and satisfaction as if its status had not changed.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-3-104 Temporary continuation of existing government.

The government of the city shall continue in authority until the reorganization, which shall be effected by the holding of a regular election under the provisions of law. The governing body may divide the city into not less than three (3) wards to take effect prior to the election.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-3-201 Mayoral veto; overriding thereof; failure to act.

The mayor is entitled to sign or veto any ordinance passed by the governing body and to sign or veto any order, bylaw, resolution, award or vote to enter into any contract, or the allowance of any claim. A veto may be overridden by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of all the qualified members of the council. If the mayor neglects or refuses to sign any ordinance and fails to return it with his objections in writing at the next regular meeting of the governing body, it becomes law without his signature. The mayor may veto any item of any appropriation ordinance and approve the remainder thereof. The items vetoed may be passed over the veto as in other cases. The mayor does not have a vote in any matter involving the override of a veto.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-3-202 Jurisdiction beyond corporate limits; exception.

(a) The mayor, from time to time, shall communicate to the governing body such information and recommend such measures as in his opinion may tend to improve the finances of the city, the police, health, comfort and general prosperity of the city. (b) The mayor has jurisdiction as may be vested in him by ordinance: (i) Repealed By Laws 2013, Ch. 104, § 2. (ii) Except as otherwise provided by this paragraph, in all matters excepting taxation within one-half (1/2) mile of the corporate limits of the city. This paragraph shall not apply to any unincorporated area for which a county has officially adopted a comprehensive plan pursuant to W.S. 18-5-202(b). With the consent of a municipality, a comprehensive plan or a plan under W.S. 9-8-301 may delegate functions to the municipality in whole or in part and exclusively or concurrently with county performance of the functions.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-3-203 President of governing body; acting president; election; duties.

The governing body may elect from their number a president who, in the absence of the mayor, shall preside at all meetings of the governing body. If the office of mayor is vacant, the president shall occupy the office until the vacancy is filled. The governing body may elect one (1) councilman to serve temporarily as acting president in the president's absence. The president and acting president, when occupying the place of the mayor, may exercise all of the powers of that office and have the same privileges as other members of the governing body. All acts of the president or acting president, while so acting, are as binding upon the council and upon the city as if done by the mayor.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-3-204 Appointed officers; removal; conditions for appointive office or position.

(a) Unless otherwise provided by ordinance, the clerk, treasurer, engineer, attorney, fire chief, police chief, municipal judges and department heads as specified by ordinance shall be appointed by the mayor with the consent of the governing body and may be removed by the mayor. All other appointments, except the appointment of members of a board or commission, and removals shall be made by the mayor without consent of the governing body unless consent is required by separate statute. The governing body shall determine the method of appointing members of a board or commission, unless the method of appointing such members is specified by separate statute. The mayor has the power to remove any officer appointed under W.S. 15-1-101 through 15-10-117 for incompetency or neglect of duty. (b) The governing body, by ordinance or resolution, may specify conditions for any office or position to which a person is appointed under this section including: (i) Level or range of salary; (ii) A description of the duties and responsibilities of the position; (iii) Term of appointment; (iv) Requirements for: (A) Promotions; (B) Suspension; and (C) Hearing of appeals from decisions of the mayor to remove or discharge an appointee other than members of a board or commission, after which the governing body may affirm, modify or reverse the decision of the mayor; and (v) Other matters which are part of the personnel policies of the city.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-3-205 Salaries; minimum amounts.

(a) The salaries of all officers shall be fixed by ordinance but the salaries of the following officers shall not be less than the following amounts per year: (i) Mayor, six hundred dollars ($600.00); (ii) Repealed by Laws 1985, ch. 8, § 2. (iii) Repealed by Laws 1985, ch. 8, § 2. (iv) Repealed by Laws 1985, ch. 8, § 2. (v) Each councilman, ten dollars ($10.00) for actual attendance at each regular or special meeting of the governing body or any committee meeting. (vi) Repealed by Laws 1985, ch. 8, § 2. (b) All other officers of the city shall receive the compensation fixed by ordinance except as otherwise provided by law. (c) Any elected or appointed mayor or city councilman may elect not to receive all or part of their salary or compensation at any time during their term.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-3-207 Elected officers; qualifications; bonds.

All elected officers shall be qualified electors of the city entitled to vote at all elections therein. Each officer shall give bond in an amount and upon conditions as are provided by ordinance.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-3-208 Treasurer; failure to provide required reports; removal; vacancy.

(a) Repealed by Laws 1985, ch. 152, § 4. (b) If the treasurer neglects or fails to provide financial reports as required by the governing body, the mayor may declare the office vacant and fill the vacancy by appointment according to W.S. 15-3-204.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-3-209 Treasurer; receiving monies; books and accounts.

The city treasurer shall receive all monies belonging to the city. The clerk and treasurer shall keep their books and accounts in the manner prescribed by W.S. 16-4-101 through 16-4-124. The books and accounts may be inspected at any time by the mayor, councilmen and other persons designated by law.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-3-210 Treasurer; handling monies; restrictions; removal; vacancy.

The treasurer shall not, either directly or indirectly, use the corporation money or warrants in his custody for his own use and benefit or that of any other person. If anyone violates this provision, the mayor may remove him from office immediately and declare the office vacant. If an office is declared vacant, the mayor shall fill the vacancy by appointment according to W.S. 15-3-204.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-3-212 Engineer; duties; other employees; outside work.

The city engineer shall keep records of all work done for the city and any other records the governing body requires. All such records are public records belonging to the city and shall be turned over to any successor to the office. The city may employ other engineers or assistants for any work for the city either within or without the city limits. Any work done by the city engineer for the city, outside the limits thereof, shall be expressly provided by ordinance.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-3-213 Change of emoluments during term prohibited.

The emoluments of any elective officer shall not be increased or diminished during the term for which he was elected. No person who has resigned or vacated any office is eligible to the same office during the time for which he was elected or appointed, if during the same time the emoluments have been increased.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-3-306 Financial statements to be published.

The governing body shall cause to be published a semiannual interim financial statement and an annual statement of the financial condition of the city.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-3-401 Actions; when showing legal compliance required.

If any suit is instituted by or against any city under the law governing cities of the first class, in any of the courts of this state, the city is not required to show its compliance with the provisions thereof, as to its organization or the passage, adoption or publication of its ordinances, unless they are controverted by affidavit.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-3-402 Actions; recovering penalty or fine; generally.

All actions brought to recover any penalty or fine shall be brought in the corporate name of the city and the recoveries, when collected, shall be paid into the city treasury. The process in every such action shall be a warrant, and the person named therein shall be arrested and taken before the municipal court for trial.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-3-403 Actions; recovering penalty or fine; statement of complaining act.

In actions brought to recover a penalty or fine under any law pertaining to cities of the first class, it is not necessary to file with the affidavit or complaint a copy of the ordinances or bylaws or sections alleged to have been violated. It is sufficient to state in plain and concise language the act complained of and to recite in the affidavit or complaint the number of the section of the ordinance alleged to have been violated and the date of passage or adoption thereof.
Source: WY Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title15.pdfFetched: 10/4/2026

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