Teton County
From Sustaining Jackson Hole Wiki
The Teton County Board of Commissioners, a five-member elected body, manages Teton County’s government, which oversees the entire unincorporated county. In 2000, there were 9,604 residents in the county. Commissioners also represent residents of the Town of Jackson, who vote in commission elections. In addition, commissioners oversee some county government operations that take place within town borders, or in conjunction with town government. Commission terms are four years. Two commissioners are elected in one election year and three are elected two years later, so turnover occurs at different times.
State statutes require the Teton County Board of Commissioners to exercise more direct operational responsibilities than the Jackson Town Council. Commissioners are mandated to make all of the day-to-day decisions about county government. The county’s director of administrative services assists commissioners in tackling budgeting and other administrative duties by coordinating scheduling and presenting information. Unlike the Town of Jackson’s town administrator, the county director of administrative services cannot make recommendations or decisions about county affairs.
State law also defines the duties of a number of elected county department heads, including the sheriff, county attorney, county clerk, treasurer, assessor, clerk of district court and coroner. Other Teton County departments include administration, planning and building, and engineering. Teton County and the Town of Jackson jointly fund the volunteer fire/ems department, the parks and recreation department, the START bus, and law-enforcement dispatch. In addition, the county is charged with funding emergency management and trash disposal, and helping fund public health, the University of Wyoming extension office, and some social services.
In fiscal year 2006, the county’s total budget, including capital projects and reserves, was $56.5 million. The general operations budget was $34.8 million, with the balance being in special funds. Of the overall $34.8 million general fund budget, revenues are generated in the following proportions: sales tax and other taxes, 56 percent; intergovernmental revenue such as grants or funding from other agencies, 13 percent; charges for county services, 7 percent; licenses and permits, 3 percent; and other sources, 21 percent.
Fund balances and reserves account for 26 percent of the total budget.
Appropriated funding is spent in the following proportions: law enforcement and public safety, 21 percent; administration, 19 percent; supporting community development programs, 15 percent; infrastructure such as roads, levees, and waste management, among others, 13 percent; health and human services, 7 percent; court and justice systems, 4 percent; and other spending, 21 percent.
More information about Teton County is available by calling 307-733-4430 or on line at www.tetonwyo.org.
Sources: Teton County, State of Wyoming
