Uncategorized
Fire Department mill levy up for vote in May
Published
11 years agoon
April 8 is last day of regular registration
By Emily Stifler Explorebigsky.com Managing Editor
BIG SKY – The Big Sky Fire Department held public hearings the week of March 25 to explain the reasoning behind its new tax proposal, which registered voters in Gallatin and Madison counties will decide on by May 7.
The department is proposing an annual 10.36 mill levy increase to the tune of $485,000 that would support hiring five new firefighters and cover some operational costs.
Currently, the department functions with two to three firefighters on duty at a time – inadequate to fulfill the Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirement of four per shift. The proposed new hires would allow it to meet that mandate.
“Our call volume has been steadily increasing, putting a strain on the system,” said Fire Chief Bill Farhat at the first of the six hearings. Meant to explain the financial needs and what the mill levy increase would mean, each of the hearings had only 1-2 attendees from the public.
“We didn’t get masses of people, but it wasn’t a wasted effort,” Farhat said afterward. “We had some great questions, and it was a good opportunity to talk with people.”
Some of those discussions revolved around a misunderstanding of the department’s funding levels, he said.
“People don’t realize how much money is generated by ambulance revenue from billing – it’s almost a quarter of our budget. That combined with resort tax, is almost half of our budget.”
He also reminded attendees that people who don’t live in Big Sky pay more than 70 percent of the district’s property taxes. All of those people can vote, Farhat said.
The mill levy would equate to a tax increase of $7.60 a month on a home with a taxable value of approximately $9,000, according to Farhat.
Although 70 percent of the department’s calls are medical, it also responds to structure and wildfires. Farhat noted that sequestration will affect the Forest Service’s ability to respond to wildfires this summer, and Big Sky Fire may have to be more involved in this effort locally.
He hopes two of the hires would be paramedics – meaning each shift would have a paramedic – and one of the hires would fill the role of Assistant Chief.
Even if voters approve the levy, the department will continue requesting funding from the Big Sky Resort Tax Board to cover operations and capital needs.
“If this gets voted down, we’ll continue on and do our best, but no one can come to me later and say you didn’t tell us,” Farhat said at the hearing. “I’m worried about it.”
The department has never been given a mill levy increase, although one was proposed in 2007.
The close of voting registration is April 8. However, late registration is possible through 8 p.m. on voting day, May 7, for the fire district election at the Gallatin County Elections Office in Bozeman.
Megan Paulson is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Outlaw Partners.
Upcoming Events
april, 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
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
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome to come, if you don’t know who to bring come alone this is a great mixer event! This is an event hosted by Big Sky OUT as we work to provide queer safe spaces throughout the community.
Time
(Sunday) 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Cowboy Coffee
25 Town Center Ave. Big Sky, MT 59716