Contact: Steve Foster
Phone: 733-8094

On Tuesday, July 17th the Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the July 1, 2012-June 30, 2013 Budget.   

This year’s budget preparation required another year of tough decisions, seeking to balance many county priorities with limited resources. 

Commission chairman, Ben Ellis commented, “With lingering concerns about the slow national economic recovery, and its impacts on residents, we are pleased that this year we were able to keep the property tax mill level unchanged, and levels of service this upcoming year will remain generally consistent with the FY 2011 and FY 2012 budgets.”    

To balance the county’s general operating budget, reserves in Jackson Hole Fire/EMS and the Teton County Housing Authority were reduced by approximately $1,000,000.   The capital budget was balanced through significant reductions and maintenance deferrals across the board, draw-downs of capital reserves and use of the anticipated year end fund balance.   

Achieving a balanced budget in future years may prove even more difficult.  Maintaining current levels of service may not be feasible in the face of flat or declining revenues.  Over the next several months sales tax collection and property values will be carefully monitored to prepare future revenue projections and anticipated impacts to the County budget.  Hard choices may lie ahead, but they will be made with full public discussion and input.   

The budget is available for review HERE.