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YES Compost & Big Sky Resort Tax

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Big Sky, Montana is technically unincorporated — no town council, no mayor — yet it generates $25 million a year in resort tax revenue and just became the most taxable community in the state. We sat down with Daniel Bierschwale, Executive Director of Big Sky Resort Area District (BSRAD), to break down how resort taxes work, what the new hospital district means for residents, and why Big Sky is essentially funding two teachers per school district across all 391 Montana school districts.

And while we’re talking dirty details, Karl Johnson, owner of YES Compost, joins to explain what vermicomposting is. It’s hundreds of thousands of worms eating your food scraps and pooping out garden gold. We talk worm aversions (no citrus, no onions, definitely no diapers), scaling from 10 lbs of worms to a city-wide composting operation, and the one commercial client who really should have read the green bucket guidelines.

This episode was made possible by the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce, for your enjoyment and information.

Learn more about Big Sky Resort Tax: ResortTax.org

And sign up for YES Compost here: YesCompost.comTopics covered: Big Sky resort tax | BSRAD | Montana local government | vermicomposting | worm castings | Big Sky housing | hospital district | Gallatin Valley composting | Big Sky Chamber of Commerce

Podcast cover for Outlaw Beat featuring two smiling men with teal overlay, 'Coming to Wildlands…' and 'Ep. 560' text, Jamie McLean & Willie McMillon at Wildlands Festival.

Jamie McLean & Willie McMillon on Wildlands 2026, the First-Ever Free Family Jam, and the Worst Gigs of their Lives

Two very different musicians, one festival weekend under Lone Peak. Jamie McLean — former guitarist for New Orleans’ legendary Dirty Dozen Brass Band, with stages from Madison Square Garden to Japan’s Fuji Rock — plays Wildlands Music Festival on Saturday, August 1 alongside Carrie Underwood and Kaitlin Butts, plus a free solo acoustic set at the first-ever Wildlands Family Jam that morning. Willie McMillon of Fader Magavin & the Risky Livers brings underground basement warehouse country from Jackson, Wyoming to Friday night’s bill with Riley Green and LeAnn Rimes — and explains why his band keeps writing checks to a festival they’re already losing money to play.

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