Teton County commissioners consider up to 1‑mill increase as budget shortfall tops $3.79 million; agree to temporary Spring Gulch pathway repairs

Teton County commissioners spent the bulk of their May 12 voucher meeting on a budget workshop that left the county with an estimated $3,791,000 shortfall, prompting discussion of a possible one‑mill property tax increase and a decision to pursue temporary repairs for the Spring Gulch pathway while staff seeks more information from federal partners about the county's BUILD grant projects.

The deficit figure was presented near the end of the workshop by Maureen Murphy, Teton County clerk. "We are now, with what we've discussed today, we're sitting at about $3,800,000 in deficit," Murphy said, adding that the number reflected department reversions submitted during the budget review. She noted the amount corresponds roughly to the revenue generated by one mill under current valuations.

Why it matters: commissioners said the gap stems largely from recent state property‑tax changes that reduce county revenue in the near term, creating a timing mismatch between tax reductions at the state level and the county's revenue cycle. Commissioners described the choice as one between raising the mill levy to preserve services and making deeper cuts to programs or capital projects.

Key decisions and direction - Several commissioners signaled they could support a modest increase in the mill levy if needed; no final mill‑levy vote was taken. The commission will set the exact mill levy on the first Monday in August, after the county finalizes revenue estimates. - The board endorsed a staff recommendation to pursue a temporary "band‑aid" repair for the Wyoming 22 (Spring Gulch) pathway rather than invest in a full rebuild this year while the timing of Wyoming Department of Transportation (YDOT) work there remains uncertain. Brent Schilling, pathways coordinator for the Town of Jackson and Teton County, described the safety hazard as root‑caused surface volcanoes and recommended a root‑barrier and surface replacement as the long‑term repair; he and county staff discussed an interim, lower‑cost maintenance approach. - Commissioners asked Public Works Director Heather Overholser to contact the county's BUILD grant contacts at the Federal Transit Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation to ask whether the county could remove the West Side of Teton Pass bike‑trail component from the BUILD program. Removing that component would free local matching funds (about $4.4 million in the local share) that could be reallocated if federal partners agree. Overholser said she would make the inquiry this week, but cautioned that formal decisions could take months because they would go to the secretary's office in Washington.

What staff proposed and commissioners debated - Staff presented a list of capital "bike rack" items and operating budget requests. Specific items discussed included Spring Gulch pathway repairs (estimated at roughly $200,000 for the long‑term fix), the West Side of Teton Pass BUILD grant component (local match about $4.4 million), a proposed morgue feasibility study ($250,000 in a one‑year tranche), and a potential Munger sewer agreement (staff recommended taking on the system only with a 100% user‑fee offset). - Weed & Pest presented its operating budget request (one mill request), noting uncertainty about cooperative federal agreements with the Forest Service, National Elk Refuge, Park Service and BLM. Bridal Edmiston, Teton County Weed & Pest District supervisor, said the district is budgeting conservatively and is prepared to shift work among partners if federal cooperative funds falter. She also reported the district treated 1,500 acres last year with drones and has a new lab able to test for West Nile and other vector‑borne diseases. - The Teton County Fair Board summarized its operating request and said it expects to need $122,000 from the county's general fund to balance fair operations this year; sponsors have been slower to commit but staff remained optimistic.

Process and next steps - Clerk Murphy reported the board must adopt the budget in late June and set the mill levy in August; commissioners instructed staff to publish the draft budget with an explanatory note that Spring Gulch pathway work remains under consideration pending further information. - Commissioners also asked staff to continue seeking bids and additional clarity on BUILD projects (including the downtown Wilson item) so the board can make a final funding decision before the final budget adoption.

Statements from officials Maureen Murphy, Teton County clerk: "We are now, with what we've discussed today, we're sitting at about $3,800,000 in deficit." Heather Overholser, director of public works: "I can talk with [the FTA representative] this week," and warned that definitive action from federal officials could take months and might require transmission to the secretary's office in Washington.

Ending The board left the workshop with no final change to the mill levy but with a request that staff pursue short‑term repairs to the Spring Gulch pathway and return updated cost and timing information, and that Overholser open conversations with federal BUILD and FTA contacts. The commissioners will continue budget deliberations in the coming weeks, with a joint meeting with the Town of Jackson scheduled the following day.