Teton County weighs $6.9M remaining Water Quality SPET allocations

Teton County’s Board of County Commissioners discussed how to allocate the remaining $6.897 million in 2022 Water Quality SPET funds during a March 2 workshop, reviewing staff and Water Quality Advisory Board (WQAB) recommendations across infrastructure, stormwater/nonpoint source mitigation, and monitoring/studies. The workshop was informational and intended to set up direction for drafting individual funding agreements that will return to the board for action.

The staff report’s recommendation package totaled $6.897 million and emphasized infrastructure (about 80% of the remaining funds). The largest single line item was $2 million recommended for the Wilson Sewer District’s Phase 4 sewer project (down from a $3.31 million request), with conditions tied to connection requirements in district rules. Other recommendations included $1.5 million for Town of Jackson stormwater improvements; $317,000 for a county monitoring/feasibility effort; and $1 million toward the Elk Refuge Sewer District’s North Highway 89 sewer project—though the report noted the Elk Refuge request was recommended to be financed via a long-term improvement service district (ISD) loan rather than a SPET grant.

A preliminary schedule tied to projected SPET collections laid out when funds could be available from 2026 through 2029, with staff noting that if the board changes funding amounts, the schedule and agreements would need to be updated. Staff said they anticipate close coordination with sponsors and legal review as the agreements are developed for a future board meeting. (Workshop staff report: Water Quality SPET Funding Proposals)