JACKSON, Wyo. — While many items on the SPET ballot might be considered public goods, these three items are related to the well-being of the community at large.
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.
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.
Town of Jackson Sidewalks and Pedestrian Accessibility
“$3,000,000 to improve walkability and accessibility in the Town of Jackson, including planning, designing, constructing, replacing, and installing sidewalks, accessibility features consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, pedestrian and bike safety features, mobility, and wayfinding signs. This project is sponsored by the Town of Jackson.”
According to the application, this funding would target all qualifying locations and projects within the Town of Jackson.
Project costs:
- Design: $260,000
- Construction: $2,610,000
- Contingency: $130,000
- Operation and maintenance escrow: R&M account in the general fund is usually $50,000.
Cost overrun plan
According to the application, if approved and more projects are identified, the town will augment with Town General and Capital Funds and/or partnerships. If the item does not pass, projects will be deferred.
The ongoing annual maintenance cost for this request is $50,000.
Teton County Water Quality Projects
“$10,000,000 to fund water quality projects that will protect and improve surface and groundwater resources in Teton County, such as the Wilson sewer project, the Town of Jackson stormwater pollution prevention project, and projects to be identified in the Teton County Water Quality Master Plan. This project is sponsored by Teton County.”
The applicant for this project is Teton County Public Works along with partners on the Water Quality Master Planning including Teton Conservation District, the Town of Jackson and Protect Our Water Jackson Hole.
According to the applicant, “the total cost for potential future water quality projects is anticipated to greatly exceed $10 million. If SPET funds are approved, they will be used to leverage local efforts and use of State and Federal funds to improve water quality in Teton County.”
The timeline for the projects would be over 10 years. Projects including the Hoback Junction Water and Sewer System, the Kelly Water and Sewer System, septic system replacements and source water protection plans could utilize the Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund and the Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund.
Funds would be used to complete the Wilson sewer district which is on phase four and includes new sewer service to Fall Creek Road, Ulysses Lane, Chugwater Way areas which were not served prior due to funding. The county estimates this phase will connect, 29 residential units, or about 70 residents to the sewer district in which they reside. The estimated cost is about $2 million.
According to the application, the current Wilson Sewer District monthly user fee is approximately three times higher than the average Town of Jackson residential user fee.
Another project that would be addressed with the SPET funding would be the construction of two wells, a transmission system and a concrete water storage system for Hoback Junction, where the groundwater has been found to have high nitrate levels unsuitable for human consumption.
The project would serve approximately 141 units and cost estimates are nearly $10 million, based on inflation and the 2010 cost estimate of $6.5 million.
In Kelly, water and sewer service is provided by private wells and septic systems. The goal is to create public water and wastewater systems that would serve 141 parcels either inhabited or could be inhabited. the project is estimated to cost about $8.14 million, based on 2010 costs with inflation added.
In Teton County, funds would be used to create a grant/loan program to provide assistance to low-income residents to replace their septic systems. According to the application, about 2,000 small wastewater facilities exist in the county and about 11% of those require immediate maintenance. It is estimated that 50% will need to be replaced in the next five years and will require financial assistance.
There are also 113 public water supply wells in Teton County and nearly all need to be prepared with Source Water Protection Plans, says the applicant, a voluntary environmental protection agency requirement, which is estimated to cost about $1.3 million.
Cost overrun plan
According to the application, “currently, there are once-in-a-generation funding opportunities becoming available through the Federal Infrastructure Act; SPET funds would be used as local match dollars to provide leverage for these other funding sources.”
Jackson Hole Fire/EMS Fire Station
“$15,000,000 for planning, designing, and constructing a new fire station in Hoback and/or Wilson and for demolishing the existing station(s) that will be replaced. This project is sponsored by Teton County.”
Two SPET applications were originally submitted in April by former Fire Chief Brady Hansens for the planning, design and construction of the Hoback and Wilson Fire stations. Each application requested $7,500,000. The items were combined and will appear together on the ballot with a funding request of $15,000,000. The plan is to build a new station on the existing site and to include employee housing.
Hoback and Wilson Fire Stations project costs:
- Design: $600,000
- Construction: $6,000,000
- Furnishings, fixtures and equipment: $50,000
- Contingency: $450,000
- Owners representative: $400,000
According to the application, Hoback Fire Station (Station 3) was identified in 2012 as the highest priority after the Jackson Hole Fire/EMS Station (Station 1), which was completed this past May. Wilson Fire Station (Station 2) was identified “as being extremely vulnerable to any earthquake movement.”
Costs for both Stations 2 and 3 were calculated based on Station 1 costs, which were $600 per square foot, but to account for inflation, the cost is estimated to be $650 per square foot.
Cost overrun plan
According to the application, Fire/EMS would propose relying on Fire Funds 11 and 13, their current budgets, to offset any overage. Bids will only be accepted if they are within budget or fund balance or if other options were available for unforeseen costs.
