Big Sky Weekly Staff Writer
BIG SKY—In advance of the June
13 resort tax appropriations meeting
at the Big Sky Chapel, a team with
the Outlaw Partners is preparing a
survey to gauge community interest
in the applicants.
This year, 28 nonprofit groups applied
for $3.5 million in funding for
various projects throughout town.
The tax board, a five-person volunteer
group that works year round to
understand how its funding works
within the community, has had
several meetings in advance of this
year’s appropriations.
Kacey Brown, with the Outlaw
Partners, is coordinating the survey.
She says the aim is to get a good
understanding of what the community
would like to see happen at this
year’s appropriations.
“Here is a wonderful opportunity
for the Big Sky community to voice
their opinions on how their tax dollars
are appropriated,” Brown said.
“With so many important applicants,
this will help us gauge what issues
residents would like to see move to
the forefront.”
The survey results should show how
the community wants its money
spent. The board estimates that
$2.25 million will be available this
year from the 3 percent resort tax
collected from July 2011 through
June 2012. That number would be
slightly down from last year, when
the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
held a conference in Big Sky last
spring and boosted tax collections.
From funding lighting and plans for
an entry monument at the intersection
of Highway 191 and Route 64,
to finishing the Warren Miller Performing
Arts Center at Ophir School
and paying for protection against
noxious weeds in Big Sky, the Outlaw
Partners wants to make sure the
community voice is heard before the
appropriations meeting this year.
Everyone is welcome to take the
survey. Log on to https://www.explorebigsky.com/resort-tax-survey and fill it out to let
your voice be heard before June 13.
