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Jackson and Teton County agree to extend Parks & Rec JPA, task staff with alternatives and facilitator
Summary
After prolonged debate over funding splits and governance, county commissioners and the town council voted to extend the Parks & Recreation joint powers agreement for one year through 06/30/2027 and directed staff to develop a revised JPA, analyze alternatives (including treating the rec center as an enterprise fund), and retain a neutral facilitator for negotiations; the bodies set a follow‑up joint meeting for Sept. 14.
Elected officials from Teton County and the Town of Jackson spent the bulk of the joint meeting debating how to revise the expired Parks & Recreation joint powers agreement (JPA), which governs operations and shared capital for parks, the recreation center and related services.
Staff presented background and several alternatives. The 2016 census‑based split (roughly 54% county / 46% town) has been superseded by a 2024 memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would move the split toward 62% county / 38% town by 2028. Staff laid out three basic past alternatives (leave the MOU, revert to census split, or a hybrid 44%/56% approach) and three new alternatives that separate the recreation center from parks and treat it as an “enterprise fund” (options 4–6). Under the enterprise approach, rec‑center revenues would offset rec‑center operations and capital first, then the remaining parks costs would be split by an agreed method (population, jurisdictional cost‑of‑service, or other agreed percentages).
A key source of disagreement was the set of non‑park services that Parks & Rec currently performs — sidewalk snow removal, building grounds maintenance and other facility work — which staff estimated at roughly $1,000,000 collectively. Some town representatives argued those services should be retained in Parks & Rec for efficiency; some county representatives said that work should be treated and funded as facilities maintenance and be charged back to the benefiting jurisdiction.
Several commissioners said they are unwilling to make final funding choices now because of large external uncertainties, including a possible statewide property‑tax initiative and pending litigation that could change county revenues after the November election. Others urged staff to proceed with Option 1 work now and to bring in a neutral facilitator to help the two bodies narrow the alternatives.
After extended discussion, County Commissioner Gardner moved to direct staff to prepare a one‑year extension of the existing Parks & Rec JPA through June 30, 2027, and to prepare a revised JPA for future consideration addressing four discrete pieces: (1) rec center operations and capital treated separately; (2) parks operations and capital; (3) maintenance of non‑park public facilities; and (4) governance structure and recommendations for the Parks & Rec Board. The motion passed on a voice vote for both bodies.
A follow‑up motion directed staff to return with additional information on Alternatives 4 and 5, to evaluate the April 22 advisory board recommendations, and to solicit a facilitator; the town and county set the next joint meeting to continue the discussion on Sept. 14.
The boards did not adopt a final funding split at this meeting; instead they extended the JPA as a backstop and tasked staff with the analysis, leaving final allocation decisions for a future joint session.
