Park County hears multiple special funding requests as commissioners warn of a $2.5 million budget shortfall

Park County commissioners took up a series of special funding requests from nonprofit and public-service groups on Tuesday and said they will defer final decisions until county budget work is complete, citing an estimated $2.5 million shortfall tied to property tax adjustments and uncertainties in federal payments-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILT).

Speakers requested operating and program support across a broad civic patchwork. Mary Louise Wood of the University of Wyoming Extension asked the county to continue a special funding allocation for Park County 4‑H; the local 4‑H program reported 516 youth members last year and requested roughly $8,000 — an amount county staff said has varied in prior years. Members emphasized 4‑H’s role in youth development, market livestock projects and statewide shooting-sports competition.

Rick Burns and Rachel Vardaman of the Palo Economic Partnership described a $20,000 request configured as an hourly charge-back (up to 400 hours at $50/hour) for grant writing and facilitation work the partnership provides the county; they offered to track hours and report deliverables. Burns reviewed PEP’s business-retention survey, agribusiness and outdoor recreation grant-writing efforts and an aerospace plan tied to the Powell Airport.

Aaron Buck, director of Yellowstone Regional Airport, requested $33,000 toward annual operating support and an additional $15,000 for an approach-and-departure study intended to reduce minimum weather minima and climbing gradients so airlines could bring larger aircraft and improve reliability. Buck said the airport’s commercial designation brings approximately $1.3 million annually in FAA entitlement funds for capital work, and he framed the operating request as an investment that leverages federal capital dollars.

Other groups seeking support included: - Powell Animal Shelter, asking for $3,500 to help cover animal food and veterinary care. - Discover Matisse visitor center, which asked to continue county grant support for facility lease, advertising and events promotion. - Matetsee Senior Center, which requested $25,000 to support meals, outreach, a proposed partnership with local restaurants on extra meal days and a vehicle for meal delivery and participant transport. - Oxbow Center (behavioral health, formerly Yellowstone Behavioral Health), which requested county support for crisis and emergent services in Park County and described gaps for people who may not qualify for state-funded care. - A county recycling group seeking continued funding for recycling operations and a glass-crusher pilot: the group said community donations and grants recently raised about $120,000 for equipment and pilot work, and requested sustained county support to keep operations open.

County commissioners reminded speakers that revenue uncertainty — including an estimated $2.5 million impact from property tax issues and pending federal PILT payments — requires staff to assemble department budgets in June and hold a final budget hearing in mid-July. Commissioners said they will review the special funding requests alongside departmental budgets and notify applicants after the county’s budget work is complete.