Local News
BSRAD launches new public comment tool before grant allocations
Published
10 months agoon
‘Prioritize’ allows Big Sky community to rank importance of local projects, informing BSRAD
By Jack Reaney STAFF WRITER
The Big Sky Resort Area District has received funding applications for 52 local projects ahead of fiscal year 2024, and the board of directors will allocate grants for those projects in early June.
To gain a sense of community priorities, BSRAD has launched a new website for community feedback which remains open until June 1.
Requests total $11.04 million and recent board discussion suggests that BSRAD has just north of $9 million to play with.
Using the online “Prioritize” tool, anyone in the Big Sky community can select the projects which they deem worthy of receiving Resort Tax funding, and rank all of those selections in order of importance. Users can rank within six “impact areas”: Arts and education, economic development, public works, health and safety, recreation and conservation, and housing.
EBS found the website easy to use, and can report that the entire process takes about 10 minutes.
“I think it’s the easiest way for the community to engage in all the projects comprehensively,” said Tammy Estensen, BSRAD communications and community engagement manager. “And all of that data gets transferred to the board before their decision making so they know which projects are most important to the community.”
Estensen added that now, board members don’t need to do any guesswork on whether a project is important to the community, and this process allows for anonymous feedback—public comment can be intimidating, she said.
The website lists a basic description and monetary ask for each project. More information about each project, and aggregate statistics from FY24 application cycle, can be found in this BSRAD document.
The impact area with the most options available is “recreation and conservation,” which lists 27 projects spanning conservation, sustainability, outdoor recreation and infrastructure, all vying for Resort Tax dollars.
Housing, on the other hand, shows only three projects—existing programs run by the Big Sky Community Housing Trust.
The following organizations requested funding for at least one project in FY24.
- Arts Council of Big Sky
- Big Sky Community Food Bank
- Big Sky Community Housing Trust
- Big Sky Community Organization
- Big Sky Chamber of Commerce
- Big Sky Discovery Academy
- Big Sky Skijoring
- Big Sky Trails, Recreation and Parks District
- Big Sky County Water and Sewer District
- Center for Large Landscape Conservation
- Friends of the Big Sky Community Library
- Gallatin Invasive Species Alliance
- Gallatin River Task Force
- Gallatin Valley Snowmobile Association
- Morningstar Learning Center
- Big Sky Sustainability Network Organization (SNO)
- Southwest Montana Mountain Bike Association
- Visit Big Sky
- Wellness in Action
- Warren Miller Performing Arts Center
Community members can also provide feedback by sending an email to BSRAD, and by attending the allocations meetings at BASE and via Zoom on June 5 and 6.
Snacks and refreshments will be provided at those meetings, according to the allocations website.
Jack Reaney is the Associate Editor for Explore Big Sky.
Upcoming Events
march, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy
more
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy that tells the story of Toby and Melinda, two lonely people whose lives are forever changed the night they encounter a starving coyote at their apartment building. Over time they grow to expect him, leaving ritual offerings to entice the coyote every night. Toby and Melinda forge a connection over this visitor and share curiosity and concern about his presence in the city. The coyote expands their world–until, one night, their world is shattered. Their lives are pushed suddenly into uncharted territory, sending them on a surreal odyssey that changes their city–and the world–forever.
Directed by LX Miller. Starring Max Schneider and Denise Hergett
Verge Theater is continuing their mission to provide accessible theater to our community. Tickets for My Barking Dog are Pay What You Wish with a suggested price of $35. Audience members are offered the opportunity to select the price point that is comfortable for them when purchasing tickets.
My Barking Dog runs March 15-17, 22-24, 28-30
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays begin at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees offered at 3:00 p.m.
Suitable for ages 16 . No animals are harmed in the staging of this production.
Tickets are available online at www.vergetheater.com
Time
15 (Friday) 7:00 pm - 30 (Saturday) 8:30 pm
Location
Verge Theater
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
Thursday of the Lord’s Supper Mass St. Joseph Catholic Mission
Event Details
Thursday of the Lord’s Supper Mass
St. Joseph Catholic Mission
Time
(Thursday) 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm