A November 2020 Update from the County Commission
Kudos to everyone who voted earlier this month for a very strong turnout at the polls. Teton County’s turnout was off the charts.
I want to congratulate my friends and colleagues who were elected or re-elected to local office: State Senator Dan Docksteder; State Representatives Andy Schwartz, Jim Roscoe, and Mike Yin; County Commissioners Natalia Duncan Macker and Greg Epstein; Jackson's Mayor-elect Hailey Morton Levinson; and new Town Councilors Jim Rooks and Jessica Sell Chambers.
I also want to express my respect and gratitude to those who ran but came up short. It’s a big decision and commitment to run for office. It’s also critical to the health of our government and democratic institutions, so thank you to all who ran.
Please Apply for Our Volunteer Boards & Commissions
Teton County has several openings on our volunteer boards and commissions. We have positions open on the Board of Health, Planning Commission, Integrated Solid Waste & Recycling, Weed & Pest, and the Alta Solid Waste District. There is also an opening on the Library Board.
Several joint town/county boards also have openings: Airport Board, Housing Supply Board, Energy Conservation Works, Parks & Recreation, Pathways Taskforce, and START.
The deadline to submit an expression of interest is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, December 1, 2020. Please consider volunteering! Check out the county’s website for more information or email or call me if you wish to discuss.
My Call to Action for Highway 390
Please take a look at my Guest Shot, which ran in the November 4 edition of the Jackson Hole News & Guide. In the column, I propose a comprehensive corridor management plan for Highway 390 to improve safety for people and wildlife while protecting the character of the corridor and the neighborhoods along the road.
Revisiting the County Budget in January
Teton County approves our annual budget in late June, with the fiscal year starting July 1. We also typically make adjustments during the year in response to changing priorities and circumstances.
With the extraordinary uncertainty about COVID-19, visitation, and the economy, the county adopted this year’s budget in an environment of unusually high uncertainty.
Sales tax revenue this summer was lower than previous years, but a bit better than what we budgeted. We also go into ski season with continued uncertainty. With these variables in mind, we plan to look at the budget again in January.
This mid-year budget review promises to be challenging.
On the one hand, we clearly need to exercise fiscal restraint.
On the other hand, the county has significant budget needs to mitigate the out-of-control transmission of COVID-19, the impact of unprecedented visitation last summer, the spike in housing demand and values, and the economic dislocation from the unchecked public health threat.
I hope that our financial projections allow for serious discussion of several pressing local needs, including:
creating a long-needed Department of Conservation with specialists in water quality and natural resource management.
a pay raise for county employees, since the cost of living has continued to rise in Teton County.
a new generation of affordable housing finance tools (this is needed but complicated, more on this later).
funds for the sheriff to better enforce speed limits, protecting the public and wildlife, on Highways 390 and 22.
hiring a transportation director to better reduce traffic congestion.
tangible actions to mitigate the climate crisis.
I invite your comments and suggestions on the county’s budget priorities.
Wishing everyone a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season.