Our View: Hoping for a better 2017

2016 was a lousy year for a variety of reasons.

Legendary musicians Prince, David Bowie and Merle Haggard passed away during the course of the year. Similarly, well-known actors and actresses have passed as well, including Carrie Fisher, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Alan Rickman and Gene Wilder. The world of sports lost Muhammed Ali, Arnold Palmer and Gordie Howe. Space pioneer John Glenn also passed away this year.

Locally, 2016 was difficult for a variety of reasons. In Sweetwater County School District No. 2, students and staff have had to experience tragedy as a teacher, a coach, a Green River High School student, and a Lincoln Middle School student who passed away during the year.

Funding continues to slow into local government, which have resulted in a number of cutbacks throughout the city.

Sweetwater County also faced severe budgetary constraints with a decrease in the county’s valuation. While the decrease would have resulted in a 20 percent decrease in budget, the county commissioners opted to fund deal with a 10 percent reduction in their budget and fund the other portion through reserves.

While both the city and county haven’t initiated layoffs, which officials representing both governing bodies have said would be a last resort in dealing with budgetary shortfalls, a number of open positions have closed without a hire. The county has slowly cut back vacant positions for the past few years, while the city has become more active in doing so more recently.

Politically speaking, 2016 was either a very good or horrible year with the election Donald Trump to the White House and a Republican majority taking seats in Congress. What will follow is most likely be four years an a conservative government and a much more long-lasting impact on the Supreme Court.

While it sounds like the year was filled with gloom, there are a few things we can be thankful for as well.

Green River’s residents continue to live in one of the most beautiful locations in Sweetwater County and Wyoming. The new economic development coalition appears to be on track for bringing in new business into Sweetwater County and while any business will benefit the county and cities, we would be more excited some of that economic develop work would pay off in Green River through new businesses and employers.

The year may have been rough for a variety of reasons, but the new year starts Sunday. Here’s hoping 2017 will be a much better year.