Joint board to vote on START plan to close $1.5M gap
On Sept. 14, the town-county joint board will weigh Mike Toronto’s START budget amendment package, pairing $750,000 in local support with service cuts and a new fare structure to cover a $1.5 million FY27 shortfall tied to lower federal funding.
The town-county joint board is set to decide Sept. 14 whether to approve a START budget amendment package that closes a $1.5 million FY27 shortfall with a mix of local dollars, service reductions, and higher fares. Staff are recommending $750,000 in added revenue split 48% county ($360,000), 32% town ($240,000), and 20% partners ($150,000), plus $633,638 in service reductions and about $117,000 in FY27 fare revenue once the new fare structure starts in January 2027 (half-year impact). Regular Joint Meeting Agenda
If the board follows the staff report, some of the first changes land this fall: staff say they plan to start implementing reductions beginning 10/12, including cuts to late-night fixed routes and trimming START On-Demand hours, depending on which reductions the board signs off on. The board will also have to pick a funding split, since staff note the 48/32/20 plan depends on actually securing partner contributions, or else the $150,000 share has to come from town/county or more cuts. Regular Joint Meeting Agenda Packet
Background
| Date | Value |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,900,000 |
| 2025-12-18 | $44,000 |
| 2026 | $699,500 |
| 2026 | $5,900,000 |
| 2026 | $3,400,000 |
| 2026 | $1,500,000 |
| 2026-09-14 | $44,000 / $1,500,000 |
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
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 |
|---|---|---|
| September 14, 2026 | Regular Joint Meeting Agenda | agenda |
| September 14, 2026 | Regular Joint Meeting Agenda Packet | packet |