Jackson’s draft FY27 budget holds spending flat; 6% wage bump, $817k drawdown

Jackson Town Council held its first FY27 budget workshop April 13, getting an overview of the town manager’s recommended budget and the schedule for follow-on meetings leading to formal adoption under Wyoming budget law. The presentation was informational, with staff asking councilmembers to flag areas they want to dig into later. (Special Town Council Meeting Agenda Packet)

The FY27 recommended budget totals $84.1 million across all funds (excluding transfers out), down from an estimated $86.9 million in FY26, largely because the Gregory Lane rebuild is nearing completion and community nonprofit requests are capped at $1.5 million, staff said. Within the General Fund, recommended FY27 spending is $38.6 million, about $93,000 lower than FY26 estimated expenditures; the biggest increase is $780,000 for employee compensation, tied to a 6.0% wage increase (3.4% cost-of-labor adjustment plus a 2.6% annual increase). (Special Town Council Meeting Agenda Packet)

Staff said the recommended budget is balanced using $817,000 from the General Fund—less than the $2.6 million approved to be used in FY26—while long-term strategy work continues on a potential “general penny” (1-cent) sales tax ballot measure in fall 2028 to stabilize core-service funding. The town manager’s message also set a target General Fund balance of 42% of expenditures, toward the high end of the town’s stated 25%–45% range, citing volatility and major-project risk. (Special Town Council Meeting Agenda Packet)