SPET 101: How it works
- Yearly SPET collections are estimated at $21 million.
- It’s estimated that 2019 funding will be fully allocated by the end of December 2023.
- For SPET measures voted on in 2022, funding will be allocated to receiving entities starting in January 2024.
- Projects that require less funding aren’t necessarily funded first.
- Funding is allocated monthly based on a percentage.
JACKSON, Wyo. — On this year’s SPET ballot there are four education-related SPET items. Funding is being requested for a new Bronc Achievement Center, a permanent Central Wyoming College campus, improvements to Teton Youth & Family Services facilities and transportation alternatives for safe routes to school.
The language that will appear on the ballot is included along with the project overview, cost and cost overrun plan.
As a reminder, SPET stands for Specific Purpose Excise Tax, which is a voter-approved one-cent sales tax in Teton County on most goods and services excluding unprepared foods, like groceries.
Teton County School District Bronc Achievement Center
“$16,505,139 for designing, constructing, and equipping a new school facility that will include indoor recreational space for community youth sports programs, academic classrooms, and laboratories. This project is sponsored by Teton County.”
The Bronc Achievement Center (BAC) will be located at 1910 High School Road, on the southeast corner of the Jackson Hole High School campus.
Project costs:
- Design: $2,726,421
- Construction: $29,845,692
- Furnishings, fixtures, equipment: $2,600,000
- Contingency: $3,283,026
The total cost of the BAC is estimated at $37,505,139. According to the application, the district will seek state construction funding along with private donations to fund $20 million of the project costs.
Cost overrun plan
The SPET request includes a 10% inflationary calculation, and the district plans to leverage community support for the BAC to encourage private donations. The application cited state funding opportunities but noted that state funding for school construction projects has been dramatically reduced in recent years. Funding from the Recreation District was also cited for areas of the building that are for community use.
Central Wyoming College Campus
“$10,000,000 for planning, designing, engineering, and constructing an approximately 21,000 square foot permanent campus for providing higher education opportunities in fields such as healthcare, early childhood education, hospitality, and language for Central Wyoming College in Teton County. This project is sponsored by the Town of Jackson.”
Central Wyoming College (CWC) is requesting $10 million in funding to construct a new 21,000-square-foot campus on a two-acre parcel on High School Road.
CWC was awarded $3.82 million during the May 2017 SPET to purchase the parcel of land and begin working on design and engineering drawings.
During the 2018 Wyoming Legislature, the state approved a $500,000 philanthropic match, which was matched with a little over $1 million in private philanthropy. In 2022, the Wyoming Legislature approved $10.3 million in matching funding for the construction of the Jackson campus and ongoing major maintenance for the facility.
Project costs:
- Land acquisition: $3,000,000 (acquired during 2017 SPET)
- Design: $2,557,001
- Construction: $12,700,512
- Furnishings, fixtures, equipment: $2,198,346
- Contingency: $2,028,155
- Other: $3,027,201 (includes bonds/insurance,escalation and admin)
Total costs are estimated at $25,511,215
Cost overrun plan
According to the SPET application, CWC will utilize private philanthropy and/or reserves and grant funds for project costs exceeding the revenues allotted.
Teton Youth & Family Services Facility Improvements
“$2,000,000 for designing, constructing, upgrading, remodeling, rebuilding, and improving Teton Youth & Family Services’ existing facilities at Hirschfield Center, Van Vleck Group Home and Red Top Meadows. This project is sponsored by Teton County.”
Teton Youth and Family Services (TYFS) is seeking funding for updates to the Hirschfield Center and the Van Vleck Group Home, both in town and the Red Top Meadows facility on South Fall Creek Road in Wilson.
Project overview:
- Design: $200,000
- Construction:$10,600,000
- Contingency: $500,000
- Furniture, fixtures, equipment: $300,000
- Operations and maintenance escrow: $500,000
- Staff support: $350,000
- Programmatic enhancements: $1,350,000
- Operating support: $1,200,00
The estimated cost is $15,000,000. TYFS anticipates that $10 million will be raised through private fundraising. They will also seek funding through the American Rescue Plan Act and other Federal support, as well as State of Wyoming funding. SPET funding, if approved by voters would total $2 million, or 13% of the total budget.
Cost overrun plan
According to the application submitted by TYFS, contingencies have been built into construction budgets and the organization’s capital budget includes a $500,000 contingency for inflationary factors. If cost overruns occur, programmatic enhancements would be reconsidered.
Transportation Alternatives and Safe Routes to School
“$15,000,000 for projects to improve transportation alternatives in Teton County and the town of Jackson including the planning, design, engineering, and construction of pathways and sidewalks for safe routes to school, commuting, and recreation as well as the Stilson transit center and park-n-ride facility and the purchase and installation of transit prioritization traffic signals and other public transit infrastructure. Any unexpended funds, including any unused contingency funds, shall be placed into a designated account, the principal and interest of which shall be used for operation and maintenance of these projects.”
Specific projects include the Stilson Transit Center, transit signal prioritization, Wilson active transportation improvements, WY-22 grade-separated crossing near Wilson School and the Town of Jackson safe routes to schools.
The safe routes to school projects would include a new pathway on the south side of High School Road, Scott Lane/Maple Way bike lane improvements, Gregory Lane pedestrian improvements, Willow Street Safe routes to school, South Park Loop protected bike lane, a sidewalk between Highway 89 and Jackson Hole Middle School and pathway crossing improvements near Colter Elementary/Jackosn Hole Middle School.
Project costs:
- Land acquisition: $750,000
- Design: $3,013,877
- Construction: $17,986,719
- Contingency: $4,279,945
- Operations and Maintenance Escrow: $255,000
Total costs are estimated at $26,285,539. In 2020, Teton County was awarded $20 million through the U.S. Department of Transportation BUILD grant to fund the Teton Mobility Corridor Improvements project. Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) has also committed to providing $400,000 for the grade-separated pathway on WY-22 at the Wilson School.
Cost overrun plan
According to the application, Teton County was awarded an FY22 5304 Transit Planning grant through WYDOT for the planning and design of the Stilson Transit Center. Additional funding from WYDOT and the BUILD grant were also cited as fallback plans if costs exceed funding.
Learn more about the other SPET items and how SPET is funded and distributed.
