Despite concerns about equity and who will qualify, Teton County Commissioners this week advanced plans to pay some first responders a $3,000 monthly housing stipend.
Should it pass in the county’s 2026-2027 budget, the total commitment is up to $198,000 for sheriff’s deputies and firefighters who can’t currently afford to live in Teton County. It would not apply to Jackson Police Officers. As it stands, only two of 30 sheriff’s deputies live inside the county.
“It’s a huge initial win,” said Teton County Sheriff Matt Carr, who also hopes to place his newly hired deputies at the top of waitlists for affordable units.
Not all of those who live outside the county would want to relocate, he said, though his survey showed six deputies may consider moving closer to town. Carr views the money primarily as a recruiting tool. The temporary money would cease once those positions moved into any existing deed-restricted home from one of the valley’s public or private providers.
“I hope we engage and deploy this money as fast as we can,” said Commissioner Len Carlman, though he acknowledged it may take time for deputies to uproot their families.
The county’s proposed budget won’t be voted on until the end of June, with an opportunity for public comment through June 29.
Hank McKinnell and wife Joanna on the Lazy Triple Creek Ranch they own pictured in 2023. The former Pfizer CEO pushed Teton County Commissioners to approve monthly housing stipends for first responders. (Courtesy)
Carr’s proposal was supported by Teton County resident Hank McKinnell, the former CEO of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and a frequent backer of law enforcement. McKinnell said he traveled the world with his own personal security detail as an executive and served for 25 years on the New York Police Foundation board.
“You have one hour to save a life, basically. When seconds count, and back-up is an hour and a half away, that’s not good enough,” he said of Carr’s deputies.
In a presentation to commissioners, McKinnell contrasted the few deputies who live in Teton County with employees of the luxury Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole who live in units provided through the local government housing department.
Data confirm that 23 Four Seasons employees – or about 8% – live in deed-restricted housing department homes. But that’s about the same proportion of their 300-person staff as at the sheriff’s department, where seven out of 78 employees – or about 9% – including three emergency dispatchers and Carr, live in such homes, according to Jackson/Teton County Housing Director April Norton.
“I don’t know that his analysis is 100% accurate but it’s informative and adds to the discussion,” said Commission Chair Mark Newcomb.
He and all his fellow commissioners advanced the proposal despite reservations about how it will be implemented and whether it creates equity problems with other departments which also struggle to attract and retain employees. It is a stark departure from a strategy of building units and providing more general support for county employees.
“It definitely marks a shift toward prioritization,” Newcomb said, “not just within the community but within our ranks.”
Commissioner Carlman called it “triage.”
“When there are too many demands and not enough resources, one has to set priorities,” he said. “And in my value system, I take care of first responders ahead of others because they take care of us in ways that nobody else can.”
It’s not uncommon for other deed-restricted housing to prioritize people based on their jobs, for example, restricting units to “critical service providers.”
Several commissioners still have questions about this system, though.
Commissioner Natalia Macker said the program has not yet determined who is eligible. At least she and Wes Gardner are viewing it as a pilot program.
“I’m willing to give it a try,” Macker said.
