How Jackson is run
Who runs Jackson, what it costs, and where your money goes
The city manager, council pay, the budget, your property tax bill and who provides each service, from Jackson's own public documents. Every number links to its source and says which year it describes. Checked Oct 11, 2026.
Who runs Jackson
The elected mayor heads the city government and appoints its top administrator and department heads. The council passes laws, adopts the budget and sets the tax rate.
What they are paid
- Six months' salary, health insurance and town housing if fired without cause
- Town housing benefit set in a 2019 offer letter
- Life, disability, dental, vision and medical insurance for him and his dependents, as for other employees
- Same town retirement plans and leave as other employees
Jackson city staff
164 full-time-equivalent positions, including START bus 46, Police 40. FY2026-27. All funds, including 45.73 for the START bus system. Town of Jackson · Jun 16, 2026
Wyoming has no statewide pay database, and the budget shows salaries by department only. Council staff reports state the mayor's and council's salaries. We name pay only for elected officials and the city manager.
Is Jackson in the red?
Cities must pass a balanced budget, so "profit" and "deficit" mean something different here. The useful questions: does the city's everyday money (the general fund) cover its everyday costs, how much does it keep in savings compared with its own target, and how big are its pension and debt bills.
The city's own outlook
The FY2027 budget uses $1.7M of general fund savings, down from $2.9M in FY2026. The town says recurring expenses are expected to exceed recurring revenues, and the council is considering a one-cent general sales tax for the fall 2028 ballot. Town of Jackson · Jun 16, 2026
Savings against the city's own target
Unassigned general fund balance: $15.9M (2025-06-30). The city's own target: Keep a minimum unreserved general fund balance of 25% of budgeted general fund spending and recurring transfers. The FY2027 budget targets 39%, within a 25% to 45% range. Town of Jackson · Dec 29, 2025
Why we skip the "budgeted deficit": many cities plan to dip into savings, then spend less than planned. The audited result tells you what really happened.
Where the money comes from and goes
The general fund only: the city's everyday money for FY2026-27.
Comes from
- State sales tax share (4% statewide tax)$14.6M · 37%
- Local 1% sales tax (5th cent)$11.9M · 30%
- Other state and county aid (gas tax, mineral royalties, county share of joint departments)$3M · 8%
- Transfers in (mostly utility funds)$2.5M · 6%
- Licenses and permits$1.8M · 5%
- From savings (fund balance)$1.7M · 4%
- Other (property tax, franchise fees, charges, fines, interest, leases)$3.9M · 10%
Goes to (FY2026-27)
- Public safety (police, fire/EMS share, dispatch)$15.4M · 39%
- General government$10.4M · 26%
- Transfers out (mostly capital projects and housing)$6.6M · 17%
- Public works$4.3M · 11%
- Community health and human services$1.5M · 4%
- Culture and recreation$976,769 · 2%
- Community initiatives$294,675 · 1%
Your property tax bill: who gets it
Of each property-tax dollar paid in Jackson, about 1 cent goes to the town. The town relies on sales taxes instead and levied 0.5 mills in 2022, its first property tax since 1977.
1¢
of each property-tax dollar goes to the city of Jackson
- School district26.25 · 46%
- State school levy12 · 21%
- Teton County7.88 · 14%
- County school levy6 · 10%
- Hospital district3 · 5%
- Other districts1.67 · 3%
- Town of Jackson0.5 · <1%
- Total (mills)57.299
2025 mill rates for a property in the Town of Jackson (Teton County). Town of Jackson · Dec 29, 2025
Who provides your services
Not everything in Jackson is run by the city. Who provides a service decides whose budget pays for it and whose election decides it.
- PoliceThe cityJackson Police DepartmentTown of Jackson · Dec 29, 2025
- Parks and recreationThe countyTeton County / Jackson Parks & Recreation, run by the countyTown of Jackson · Jun 16, 2026
- WaterThe cityTown of Jackson water utilityTown of Jackson · Dec 29, 2025
- SewerThe cityTown of Jackson sewage utilityTown of Jackson · Dec 29, 2025
- TransitThe citySTART Bus, run by the town for the town and countyTown of Jackson · Jun 16, 2026
- StreetsThe cityTown of Jackson Public WorksTown of Jackson · Dec 29, 2025
- Animal shelterThe cityTown of Jackson, for the town and countyTown of Jackson · Jun 16, 2026
Compared with similar cities
The cities in this state closest in population that we cover. Read it for scale, not as a ranking: cities provide different services.
| Per city | CodyWY | JacksonWY | RivertonWY | Green RiverWY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 10,377 | 10,720 | 10,910 | 11,450 |
| Top administrator's base pay | Not confirmed | Not current (2023) | Not confirmed | $194,066 |
| Council member pay | Not confirmed | $41,000 | Not confirmed | $12,000 |
| General fund per resident | $1,339 | $3,682 | $1,013 | $2,011 |
| Debt per resident | $332 | $124 | $359 | $116 |
| Unfunded pension per resident | $694 | $1,044 | $490 | $1,011 |
| City staff per 1,000 residents | — | 15.3 | 11.6 | — |
Figures as shown in each city's section, divided by its population. Years differ by state, and pension figures are measured differently in each state (each city page says how).
What Jackson publishes
What a resident can find online today. A "no" is something you can ask the council to publish.
- Yes: Adopted budget posted online Town of Jackson · Jun 16, 2026
- Yes: Meeting videos and minutes online Town of Jackson
- Yes: Council pay stated in a public documentA February 2026 staff report states the mayor's $50,000 and council members' $41,000 yearly salaries. Town of Jackson · Feb 17, 2026
- No: Employee pay publishedWe found no pay list by employee or position. The budget shows salaries by department only. Town of Jackson · Jun 16, 2026
Questions to ask your council
- The FY2027 budget uses $1.7 million of general fund savings, and the town expects recurring expenses to exceed recurring revenues. What happens to the budget if a sales tax is not approved in 2028?
- Unassigned general fund reserves were $15.9 million on June 30, 2025. How close will the FY2027 budget's planned 39% balance be to the 25% minimum?
- The town levies 0.5 mills of property tax and relies mostly on sales taxes. Does the council plan to keep property tax as a last resort?
- The town manager's 2023 contract set pay at $221,000 and allows raises given to all staff. Will the town post his current salary?
The fiscal year starts July 1. The council sets goals at a January retreat, the town manager brings a recommended budget by May 15, work sessions follow in May, and the council holds public hearings in June. The FY2027 budget was adopted June 16, 2026 (Resolution 26-10). See who is running for council
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