Teton County, Wyo., commissioners approve FY 2013 budget

Anticipating a slow economy, Teton County, Wyoming Commissioners have unanimously approved a 2013 budget. To balance the county’s general operating budget, the commission reduced reserves in Jackson Hole Fire/EMS and the Teton County Housing Authority by one million dollars. The budget also includes significant reductions and deferrals across the board, draw-downs of capital reserves, and use of the anticipated year-end fund balance.

Commission Chairman Ben Ellis said, “With lingering concerns about the slow national economic recovery, and its impacts on residents, we are pleased that this year we were able to keep the property tax mill level unchanged, and levels of service this upcoming year will remain generally consistent with the FY 2011 and FY 2012 budgets.”

But, hard choices may lie ahead. Ellis said sales tax collections and property values will be carefully monitored over the next several months. He warned that maintaining current levels of service may not be feasible in the face of flat or declining revenues into the future.