Proposed budget outlines city priorities

The budget currently under consideration by the Green River City Council details the city’s priorities for the coming year and beyond.

The budget maintains a commitment to community organizations by upholding previous funding levels the city budgeted last year while adding funding for a few new requests. In total, the city will distribute $271,585 to local organizations, which represents an increase of $72,185. Organizations being funded include Climb Wyoming, the Sweetwater County Transit Authority, Golden Hour Senior Center, and Food Bank of Sweetwater County. The budget outlines an increase in some grants as well, with increases given to Treatment Court of Sweetwater County, which will receive a $1,600 increase from last year’s request to $9,600, and the Sweetwater County Family Resource Center, which will receive an additional $800 to a total of $6,000.

The transit authority will receive less money this year, decreasing its request from $18,767 to $16,890 this year.

Two additional groups will receive funding for the first time through the proposed budget. The Green Belt Task Force is set to receive $25,000 from the city and the Sweetwater County Board of Health is listed to receive $47,185. Other groups include the Green River Arts Council, which is set to receive $30,000, and $20,000 to the Flaming Gorge Days Committee, which now operates under the Green River Urban Renewal Agency and Main Street Organization.

Other commitments the city plans to fund include the popular 50-50 sidewalk replacement program, which will receive $40,000 under the proposed budget. While speaking about the program two weeks ago, City Administrator Reed Clevenger said the program has a backlog of projects that likely won’t be completely covered by the allocation.

Economic Development

The city’s budget also highlights a continued commitment to economic development in Sweetwater County. The city will continue supporting the enhancement of services from the Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport and plans continued support of the Sweetwater Economic Development Coalition. Clevenger said the focus will continue to be supporting efforts to bring business and industry to the county, though he admits right now other forces are driving development in the area.

“They’re coming here not because of us, but because of what’s in the ground,” Clevenger said.

Clevenger said the city needs to understand and adapt to the demands that will come from both transient workers and permanent employees coming to the area. While some of those demands will be focused on infrastructure, others relate to the quality of life in Green River, an area Mayor Pete Rust has long been a proponent of. Quality of life investments can be seen in the expenditures for the Green Belt Task Force, as well as community events like Flaming Gorge Days, as both provide unique opportunities for recreation and entertainment for city residents.