EBS STAFF
Gallatin County’s Regional Housing Coalition gathered nine state legislators and legislative candidates to The Wilson Hotel in Big Sky on July 15 for the first public presentation of “Bridging the Gap: A Guide to Funding Affordable Housing in Montana,” an analysis identifying ways to create a dedicated, ongoing funding source for affordable housing in the county. The coalition is supported by One Valley Community Foundation, includes nearly 30 organizations across government, development, finance, real estate and the nonprofit sector, and has served as Gallatin County’s federally recognized Continuum of Care since 2023.
The report, produced by the Headwaters Community Housing Trust, most notably stated that as of April 2026, the median rent in Gallatin County is $2,195 a month and the median home price is $789,000, costs that are unsustainable for local median incomes.
The report explained funding tools, four of which would require action by the Montana Legislature: a local option sales tax (estimated at $85 million a year for Gallatin County), a share of the county’s roughly $20 million in annual bed tax revenue, a portion of the state’s rental car tax, and a share of Montana’s marijuana tax revenue. It also pointed to local options already available, including a dedicated housing levy or bond and voluntary fee programs, building on existing efforts like the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program and the Gallatin Housing Impact Fund.
