START's $9.3 million budget gets a special joint meeting on Aug. 31
County commissioners' calendar materials show a county-hosted special joint meeting on Aug. 31 for the START budget, the next public step for a transit budget the research record pegs at about $9.3 million.
START riders and workers just got one clear date to watch: the Teton County Board of County Commissioners' calendar set a county-hosted special joint meeting for Aug. 31 at 1:30 p.m. on the START budget county calendar. For people trying to get to an early shift without a car, that matters even when the agenda line is thin, because this is where the town and county put the bus budget back in public view before service decisions land.
The deeper budget trail still leaves a lot unsaid. A June joint budget packet said both boards had already declined a proposed operator wage adjustment and described START as one of the joint budgets still under discussion joint budget packet. The research wiki for this recurring fight puts the current START Bus budget at $9,316,774 for fiscal year 2026, including $54,400 for a vanpool pilot, but the Aug. 17 calendar does not say whether Aug. 31 is about cuts, added local support, or another round of trimming. If you ride START to work, this is the meeting that may finally answer that.
Background
On August 31, 2026, Teton County and Jackson officials will meet to discuss the $9.3M START Bus budget for FY26, with stakeholders including the START Board, local governments, and the public.
Latest: 2026-08-31 — Special Joint Meeting scheduled at 1:30 PM to discuss and finalize the START Budget for FY26.
curated as of 2026-08-08
On July 23, 2026, the START Board approved recommending service reductions to address a $1.5M budget shortfall, with final decisions pending a public hearing and Joint Board approval.
Latest: 2026-08-20 — Scheduled public hearing to receive comment on proposed service reductions and fare changes before Joint Board approval.
curated as of 2026-07-22
On July 23, 2026, the START Board voted 5-1 to approve $1,118,000 in service and budget cuts as a contingency if Town and County General Fund support for a $1.5 million shortfall was not pursued.
Latest: 2026-10-22 — START Board votes 5-1 to approve initial service and budget cuts totaling $1,118,000 as a contingency if primary funding is not pursued.
curated as of 2026-10-22
Source Documents
| Date | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| August 17, 2026 | Teton County Board of County Commissioners Calendar | calendar |
| June 1, 2026 | Regular Joint Meeting Agenda Packet | packet |