A MOU, a “memorandum of understanding” is an agreement to spend tax-payer money on special stuff. A MOU does not require a formal address, by either a governmental body, such as city or county.
Starting in 2021, there were four BOCC meetings on “attainable housing”. The attainable housing concept was supported, by ARPA (federal) funds. Habitat for Humanity of the Eastern Bighorns, was selected to administer to the ARPA Funds, through the establishment of a “land trust”. Let us move forward.
A developer, Westin Village, was gifted with, part of the funds, to install infrastructure, in the subdivision. Contractors have been selected to build, the 27 remaining attainable homes at Westin Village. Fifteen of these homes will be obligated by a conventional mortgage. The remainder will be leased waived “for a period of time” and /or, sold at below market cost. These sells must be, to parties, that cannot qualify for a conventional mortgage.
What?
All of this is possible, if you, the voter, will vote for the GPET tax in 2026. The GPET tax, would support an unqualified buyer in an attainable home. Is this how you got your home?
In 2022, at a “special” staff meeting of the BOCC, deputy county attorney, Clint Beaver, noted, the Wyoming Constitution has an “anti-donation” clause which prohibits donations of public funds to private individuals i.e. homeowners. There were 4 BOCC meetings, to discuss this “anti-donation” problem. The solution was to create, the Habitat for Humanity land trust. On March 5th, 2025 Habitat through an MOU, with the city and county, has agreed to a transfer of the land trust to the city and county.
The city and county land trust will administer the taxpayer supported attainable homes, if the voters support the GPET tax. Teton County and Jackson Hole have a land trust. To get around the anti-donation clause of the Wyoming Constitution, they placed support of attainable housing on a GPET vote.
Here is the “Gentleman’s Agreement”, the City will borrow against the city’s property tax evaluation, and, the county BOCC can count on the city voters to remain in office.
To join in on the dialog, contact sheridanclash@gmail.com.