By Jen Clancey DIGITAL PRODUCER
Big Sky is seeking to create its own Wellness District, which would help address complex needs in the growing community beyond medical and psychological care.
Each year, Big Sky’s Madison County residents—who also live within Big Sky’s resort area district boundary—pay property taxes totaling $1.7 million to the Madison Valley Hospital District. Daniel Bierschwale, BSRAD’s executive director, said that this number doesn’t end up serving Big Sky entirely.
Describing the geography of Big Sky and its access to the MVHD, Bierschwale said, “they’re inaccessible…As far as the crow flies, it’s not a big deal. But Jack Creek is a private road.”
Jack Creek Road is the only direct access point between Big Sky and Ennis and the rest of Madison County, but the private road requires a pass to use, and can be unnavigable in bad weather. For this reason, Big Sky locals need to use U.S. Highway 191 to access nearby towns like Bozeman, or access the Madison Valley Medical Center through Montana Highway 84, past Norris.
This disconnect is felt not only physically, when trying to access these different communities, but also in services.
“Meanwhile, our local community has a deficit in being able to cover the need for all the services,” Bierschwale said. He explained that numbers in Big Sky show a demand for services that organizations like Wellness in Action provides. From 2022 to 2023, service hours provided by WIA counselors increased by 247%, according to the wellness organization.
WIA is a Big Sky-based nonprofit that connects individuals with counseling services, education programs, scholarship opportunities for summer and winter camps, substance abuse and suicide prevention support groups.
The organization is spearheading the Big Sky Wellness District initiative.
Creating a Wellness District from the ground up
The creation of a new Wellness District has two first steps. First, withdraw land residing within the existing hospital district. In this case, the Madison Valley Hospital District shares geographic boundaries of Madison County in Big Sky.
The partner coalition–consisting of WIA, BSRAD, Big Sky Owners Association, Big Sky Fire Department, local health care service providers, Human Resource Development Council and Big Sky Community Food Bank–will collect signatures from 51% of those Big Sky residents living in Madison County.
In Montana statute, those signatures need to be from residents who own property, pay taxes and are registered to vote in Madison County.
In the second step, the partner coalition must collect signatures of 30% of that same population in a formation petition, to form the new Wellness District after withdrawal.
The coalition aims to complete both steps by Friday, Dec. 15.
While some may see the many nonprofits in Big Sky as a reason for not needing to start a Wellness District, according to Allison Bradac, executive director of WIA, these organizations actually lay the foundation for what this district could do for the community.
“We really are the only nonprofit in Big Sky that provides behavioral and mental health services to the community,” Bradac said.
And while the Big Sky area hosts a slew of seasonal activities that bring joy for both tourists and locals, there are unmet needs under the surface.
“The overall concern and care for the Big Sky community has to do with it being a resort town and community members struggle with depression, anxiety, suicides,” Bradac said.
According to the Bozeman Health 2020 Community Health Needs Assessment, 20% of Big Sky is diagnosed with depressive disorder. Bradac read off these statistics while reflecting the demand for WIA services. “Our relationships in the community are extensive,” Bradac said. But with this, the organization is constantly working toward sustainable funding by actively seeking funding through, oftentimes, one-time grants.
Forming Big Sky’s own Wellness District would allow the WIA team to fulfill its mission and provide “more freedom for our organization to focus on growing and expanding care,” Bradac said.
Supporting those in need includes essential services like food security and connection with social services. According to a 2022 HRDC Needs Assessment, 8.5% of the Big Sky population is in poverty.
The Big Sky Community Food Bank has needed to buy 250% more food in fiscal year 2023 compared to 2022, and has served 97% more unique individual customers. From 2022, the food bank has also connected 900% more individuals with local, state and federal social service programs.
Bradac sees possible Wellness District as an “opportunity to use community tax dollars to better serve the community.”
How the new district can meet needs of Big Sky
“The Wellness District initiative is led by a group of community stakeholders. Bozeman Health is aware of and staying up to date with their efforts,” Chris Darnell, Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center administrator wrote in an email.
“We have many existing relationships that we value and are proud of. Whatever the future holds, Bozeman Health remains committed to caring for the greater Big Sky community and will continue to expand services and work with others to improve community health and wellness,” Darnell stated.
The Big Sky Community Capital Improvement Plan outlines some of the infrastructure goals in Big Sky, stating that a sum of $777 million or more will address community needs in different factors. The CIP includes emergency room expansion plans from 2025 to 2028 at the Big Sky Medical Center as well as a same-day surgery unit from 2026 to 2028.
But Bierschwale explains that the district would address community needs as well as health needs, hence the name “wellness.” Plans for expansion and further support for the food bank and resource center, and a permanent behavioral health space are listed as goals in the timeframe of 2023 to 2028.
“By withdrawing from the Madison Valley district and redirecting existing tax dollars, Big Sky is not proposing new taxes or fees but rather wanting local control over funding local priorities,” Bierschwale clarified.
The redirection of Madison County property tax dollars “would need to be taken in consideration, moving forward with any future bond initiatives that the [MVHD] would be pursuing or any budgets that are being proposed in the future,” Bierschwale explained.
Ultimately, Bierschwale explains that the “wellness” initiative aims to formalize holistic health needs. As for Big Sky’s need and desire for enhanced wellness services, data and experience may support the initiative.
“You know, I think when you when you look around at our community, and the real tragic scenarios that have happened over the years, regarding depression, substance abuse, and ultimately suicide, I think there’s a real awareness around that within Big Sky,” Bierschwale said.
