Wyoming needs to be “realistic and mature” about its reliance on mineral money that could, as seen recently in the case of coal, drop significantly, Gov. Mark Gordon said Thursday at a press conference.

“It’s a well-worn adage at this point that for roughly every $3,000 that a family of four pays in taxes, they get about $30,000 in … benefits, from the mineral industry,” Gordon said in response to a question about the Legislature’s recent failure to pass any action diversifying the state’s economy. “We obviously as a state have to recognize that.”