EBS STAFF
The Big Sky Resort Area District received 27 applications between 24 organizations for resort tax funds, totaling nearly $6 million including rollover applications from the last fiscal year. As of March, the most recent data available, the district had collected more than $3.8 million with three months of collections remaining.
Last fiscal year, the district collected $4.1 million and appropriated $5.1 million in resort tax funds including rollover requests and $1.3 million for the resort tax sinking fund.
The Big Sky Community Housing Trust applied for $1.2 million to match a private infrastructure donation and phase one of an affordable housing development project with approximately 30 units.
The next largest ask came from the Big Sky Fire Department, applying for more than $700,000 to fund operations and replace or upgrade emergency equipment. Visit Big Sky applied for nearly $700,000 for marketing campaign support, among other items, and the chamber of commerce is asking for more than $500,000 this appropriations cycle.
The chamber is seeking funds for two gateway monuments near the intersection of highways 191 and 64, five streetlights along Highway 191, money to hire a consultant to assist its transportation improvement plan, and operations support, among other needs.
The board will announce June 6 an estimated total amount of resort tax that will be appropriated this year at its Q-and-A in the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center. The appropriation meeting is June 20 at WMPAC.
2017 Resort Tax Applications
