By Renae Counter Explorebigsky.com Editorial Assistant
BIG SKY – Morningstar Learning Center has a mortgage payment plan on its new building thanks to funding from the Big Sky Resort Tax Board.
Morningstar was allocated $24,000 to use toward paying off the new site, a sizable increase after being denied funding last year.
“The Morningstar Board was really excited and thankful for the money from the resort tax,” said Tracy Jacobson, a Morningstar board member.
The group plans to refinance the building which will result in a $25,000 saving on the mortgage. This saving will help to keep costs down, Jacobson said.
Morningstar is Big Sky’s only state certified childcare and preschool facility. As a nonprofit, it relies on grants, fundraisers and donations in order to keep tuition costs manageable. According to Jacobson, Morningstar strives to “keep tuition affordable for the Big Sky community.”
Morningstar moved to its current location, 659 Spruce Cone Drive, in October of last year. The new facility “functions and serves more than perfectly for our needs with plenty of space for toddlers and preschoolers,” Jacobson said.
Now that it has enough money to go toward mortgage payments for the whole year, Morningstar is looking at being more financially stable. The board has discussed plans for expansions on the building in the future, but for now are focused on the space they have.