By Joseph T. O’Connor Explore Big Sky Senior Editor
BIG SKY – The Big Sky Resort Tax Board has scheduled two public town hall meetings for Feb. 13 and March 13, each with distinct agendas.
The board has multiple objectives for the Feb. 13 meeting, according to Whitney Brunner, RTB’s Administrative Officer.
The first is the reading of new amendments to governing ordinance 98-01, sections 8-10, which denote what is considered taxable under resort tax guidelines. Currently, a 3 percent tax exists on luxury items purchased in the Big Sky Resort Tax District. The amendments are aimed at clearing up any ambiguity surrounding taxable items, Brunner said.
The Feb. 13 meeting will also include a review of the board’s strategic session, held in August 2013, as well as a discussion of the board’s bonding authority and its sinking fund.
At the March 13 meeting, three organizations that received funding from 2013 resort tax allocations to hire consultants will present their respective consultants’ recommendations.
The Big Sky Community Corp. will present results from the recreation facilities plan; the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce will update attendees on the housing development plan; and Visit Big Sky will present its marketing strategy.
“The board wants to see some action, to see the consultants’ recommendations,” Brunner said. “[RTB] wants to give these entities a platform going forward and all of these plans are going to need community support.”
Last winter, the Resort Tax Board held town hall meetings to update the community on allocations progress and to prop open the door of communication for upcoming projects.
Both the Feb. 13 and March 13 meetings will be held at 7 p.m. at the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center.
