Town of Jackson
From Sustaining Jackson Hole Wiki
The 1,801-acre Town of Jackson is the only incorporated municipality in Teton County. In 2000, the Town of Jackson’s population was 8,647.
The Town is overseen by the Jackson Town Council, a five-member elected body that includes a mayor and four councilors. Mayors are directly elected to two-year terms, and councilors to four-year terms. Two councilors are elected every two years so turnover doesn’t occur all at once.
The mayor and Town Council set and direct policy. They also supervise the Town Administrator, a position appointed by the Town Council. The administrator oversees the day-to-day affairs of the town and carries out policy direction from the Council. The administrator also appoints and oversees department heads for administration, personnel, finance, building and planning, public works, and engineering and capital improvements. The police department oversees state laws and town ordinances, and a municipal court enforces town ordinance violations. The municipal judge reports directly to the Town Council, as does the town attorney. The Town of Jackson provides funding jointly with Teton County for the volunteer fire /ems department, the parks and recreation department, the START bus, and law-enforcement dispatch.
The Town of Jackson shares sales tax revenues with Teton County government based on the population breakdown of residents who live in town versus the unincorporated county. The split is based on the most recent Census, and is currently 47 and 53 percent for the town and county respectively. In fiscal year 2005-06, the Town of Jackson’s general operating fund budget was $10.6 million.
Roughly 55 percent of the Town’s operating revenue comes from taxes, primarily sales taxes. Franchise, license and permit fees, charges and services, interest, and fines bring in the rest of the Town’s revenues. State, federal and grant funding also contribute to funding for capital projects.
The town’s operating fund in 2005-06 was budgeted in the following proportions: public safety, 22 percent; administration, 21 percent; infrastructure, 15 percent; health and human services, 4 percent; community development, 3 percent; justice, 2 percent; and other expenditures, 33 percent.
More information about the Town of Jackson is available by calling 307-733-3932, or on line at www.ci.jackson.wy.us.
Sources: Town of Jackson, State of Wyoming
