At its regular meeting on Monday, December 7, the Jackson Town Council voted to direct staff to fill a vacancy for a seasonal snowplow driver.
This position was frozen last year during the budgeting process as extensive shortfalls were projected due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As expected, and even though town was busy all summer, sales and lodging tax were down significantly from the prior year. In June alone, sales tax was down 28% and lodging tax was down 74%.
That percentage reduction improved to single digits by August but dipped again in September when sales tax was down 20%. Luckily, the Town Administration and Council were proactive and planned for this downturn, but only balanced this year’s budget by drawing on nearly $5M from a rainy-day reserve fund that is not easily replenished.
Town Council has discussed the snowplow position and other unfilled roles extensively.
Council determined that filling this role for the winter will ensure the safety and high-level of service town constituents have come to expect and will provide a potential buffer should the streets team be affected by COVID-10. Once this part-time snowplow driver is hired, the Public Works Department will have dedicated staff on the schedule to plow streets, alleyways and parking lots daily. This fully staffed level of service for the town’s plowing program includes efficient, effective plowing of all alleyways, parking lots, and streets before 8:00am during snow cycles.
Town Council heard constituents, particularly residents who access residences through alleyways, and approved hiring a snowplow driver with a 4-1 vote. Councilor Arne Jorgensen highlighted that this is only the beginning of hard conversations about the town’s budget and limited resources.
Jorgensen notes, “This is one frozen position among many and though winter is upon us, a snowplow driver is no more important than positions that are not being filled in other departments. Difficult budget discussions will continue, and we hope to educate everyone in town about how much the town has already cut and the realities we will continue facing in future budget cycles.”