Teton County voters had the opportunity to vote on the SPET initiative to fund the stabilization of the landslide above West Broadway and it passed handily.
The vote showed roughly 3500 for with a bit less than 2000 against.
The tax proposal will collect 6 million dollars, a timeline that would only take about 6 months or so to achieve.
The money will be used for acquiring land and/or easements, relocating and replacing any impacted utilities, and planning, engineering and constructing a system to stop the landslide and restore public infrastructure
According to sensors located on the hillside, the landslide is still moving approximately a quarter of an inch a month and the United States Geological Survey has confirmed that there is a possibility of a catastrophic failure of the hillside.
Town Administrator Bob McLaurin said that “this is an issue about public safety…not only for our community but for the economy.” He emphasized that with a SPET initiative, visitors to Jackson pay for the majority of tax that is collected.
An in-depth webcast of the history of the landslide presented by geologist Peter Ward can be viewed on the Town of Jackson’s website: http://jacksonwy.swagit.com/play/04182014-632
