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Teton County commissioners approve third-year SPET distribution, $1.9M ECW request discussed
Summary
The Teton County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution setting the third-year distribution of 2022 special purpose excise tax (SPET) revenues, after staff and sponsors described proposed allocations and a plan to loan funds to an Energy Conservation Works solar project if needed.
Teton County commissioners voted unanimously April 15 to approve a resolution setting the county's third-year distribution of revenues from the 2022 special purpose excise tax (SPET) to sponsoring entities for projects planned for 2026.
The vote came after a presentation from Katie Smith, Teton County treasurer, and a legal overview from Keith Kingery, deputy county attorney. Kingery reminded the board that "under Wyoming statute 39-16-211(b)(2), the monies collected under the special excise tax shall be distributed immediately by the treasurer to the sponsoring entities," and described how the treasurer provides a proposed spreadsheet of distributions for the board to approve in public session.
The resolution approved by the board implements the treasurer's recommended schedule for the third year of distributions. Treasurer Katie Smith said she proposed using the $1,900,000 requested by Energy Conservation Works (ECW) by redirecting that amount into a water-quality line item for this year. Melissa Turley, executive director of Energy Conservation Works, told commissioners, "We had requested a $1,900,000 distribution for the coming year," and said her group remains comfortable with the arrangement staff described.
Deputy County Attorney Keith Kingery and Smith described one technical accommodation: because ECW prefers a direct SPET distribution rather than a loan, staff proposed a hybrid approach. Kingery said the county will make an interfund loan to ECW to cover upfront costs for a community solar project and expects to repay the county's internal fund from later SPET receipts when the project completes; staff estimated repayment could occur near 2029'2030.
Kingery also noted the scale of the overall 2022 SPET program, saying the ballot package was large and that receipts will come over many years. He said the county collects about $23 million annually and that the 2022 SPET passed with roughly $166 million of projects on the ballot, meaning distributions must be phased over multiple years.
The motion to adopt the resolution was made by Commissioner MacKerr and seconded by Commissioner Carlin; the board voted unanimously to approve the distribution schedule.
What's next: The approved schedule applies to distributions for calendar year 2026. Staff and sponsoring entities will use the adopted amounts for agency budgeting and to move projects through permitting and procurement. Commissioners and staff said they will return to the board in future meetings if projects or timing change.
Votes at a glance - Resolution approving distribution of revenues for Teton County, State of Wyoming, 2022 special purpose excise tax for the third year of funding: Moved by Commissioner MacKerr, seconded by Commissioner Carlin; outcome: approved unanimously (4-0; Commissioner Probst absent).
