START Bus budget amendment may decide fall cuts and fares
Jackson and Teton County will consider a $1.5 million START Bus budget amendment Aug. 31, with staff urging local funding over route cuts or fare hikes.
The Jackson Town Council and Teton County commissioners will spend up to three hours Aug. 31 on a START Bus budget amendment after federal funding came in $1.5 million short, according to the special meeting agenda and agenda packet. Staff and the START Board recommend filling the whole gap from town and county General Funds, $600,000 from Jackson and $900,000 from Teton County, to preserve current service while longer-term funding is studied.
For families, the question is whether bus routines get more expensive or less useful this fall. If the joint board does not fully fund the gap, the packet lays out cuts that could reduce town shuttle frequency, trim Friday commuter trips from Star Valley and Teton Valley, shorten START On Demand hours, and remove On Demand stops at Albertsons and the Teton County Library. A staff fare option would charge $2 on local routes and On Demand and $10 on commuter one-way rides, but the START Board does not recommend using fare hikes to close the gap.
Background
On September 14, 2026, Teton County Commissioners will discuss a $44,000 START Budget Amendment by Mike Toronto to cover a SaaS overage, alongside broader amendments for a $1.5M federal funding shortfall.
Latest: 2026-09-14 — Joint Board scheduled to discuss and potentially approve the $44,000 SaaS amendment and the broader $1.5 million budget amendment.
curated as of 2026-09-11
Teton County faces a $1.5M federal funding cut for START transit in FY 2027, prompting a proposed budget amendment with service cuts, possible fare hikes, and a special joint meeting on August 31, 2026.
Latest: 2026-08-31 — Special joint meeting scheduled to discuss budget amendment addressing $1.5M federal funding reduction for START transit.
curated as of 2026-08-26
START's FY27 budget shortfall led to $633,638 in approved service reductions, including cutbacks to bus frequency, van pool, and administrative costs, with changes starting October 2026.
Latest: 2027-01 — New fare structure planned for implementation; staff to report on supplemental funding.
curated as of 2026-10-30
Source Documents
| Date | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| August 31, 2026 | Special Joint Meeting Agenda | agenda |
| August 31, 2026 | Special Joint Meeting Agenda Packet | packet |