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Jackson council tentatively advances $1.5M health and human services package amid debate over cuts
Summary
Councilors reviewed the FY27 health and human services and community-initiatives package (about $1.5 million combined). Some councilors proposed modest across-the-board reductions while others warned of harm to community partners; staff and council agreed to advance the current numbers for inclusion but signaled possible further review before final adoption.
The town manager presented the council's FY27 combined target for health and human services plus community initiatives at roughly $1.5 million, asking whether the council concurred with including those amounts in the budget.
Councilor Veman said recent upward revisions elsewhere in the budget had caused her to reconsider prior positions and signaled openness to reducing some funding; she proposed options such as returning to the FY24 funding levels for some groups to realize savings. Another councilor proposed a 6% cut across health and human services, estimating that would save roughly $90,000.
Councilor Schechter and others pushed back against across-the-board reductions, saying many of the nonprofit partners provide crucial services and that modest percentage savings would have outsized impacts on smaller providers. Councilors discussed targeted alternatives: removing or reducing new requests (Councilor Veman suggested cutting the newly requested Good Samaritan Mission funding) while keeping longstanding awards intact (the Wyoming Immigrant Advocacy Project was discussed as an example to preserve at $15,000).
Town Manager Sinclair summarized the council's working direction: proceed with the health and human services and community initiatives figures presented for inclusion in FY27, while acknowledging councilors may return with targeted amendments. He noted the overall process remains iterative and staff will bring clarifying spreadsheets and potential amendments back to the council prior to the June 15 adoption.
The council did not vote on final allocations at the May 26 session; staff said further adjustments could be made at subsequent meetings.
