JACKSON, Wyo. — The The Town of Jackson recently released applications to fill seven positions on a newly forming Equity Task Force.
According to the Town, the Equity Task Force will advise and make recommendations to the Town and Council on priorities, policies, and solutions to help bring a wider variety of voices and perspectives into conversations to, ultimately, inform decision-making.
The deadline to apply is Dec. 17. Town staff will review and interview applicants and the Council will be presented with seven potential members in Feb. 2022. The task force is slated to meet beginning in April 2022.
Members will serve two-year terms and attend three-hour-long monthly meetings.
Each of the seven members of the Equity Task Force will be paid $450 per month to participate in monthly meetings, work on committees and prepare for meetings. The breakdown is 15 hours at $30 per hour, Susan Scarlata, community engagement specialist explained during an August Town Council Workshop.
“Staff finds that it’s definitely an incentive and with segments of the community we are hoping to engage we really think this could be the difference of taking on a second or third job and giving the time and effort and energy,” Scarlata said.
The application includes open ended questions, such as “What is your perspective on equity in our community?”
According to the Economic Innovation Group, Teton County has the greatest wealth disparity in the nation.
Funding for the task force will require a budget amendment.
