Resort Tax, chamber, EBS to host Ballots and Brews March 24
EBS STAFF
Voters in Big Sky will decide in the upcoming May 5 mail-in election whether to establish a pair of local hospital and wellness districts—one within each county—designed to improve access to health and wellness services.
To help voters better understand the ballot measure, two public education events are scheduled, including this week’s Ballots and Brews on Tuesday, March 24. From 5 to 6:30 p.m., the Big Sky Resort Area District and Big Sky Chamber of Commerce will host a free, public event at The Waypoint. The night includes a presentation on the proposal, discussion panel and Q&A moderated by Explore Big Sky’s senior editor, Jack Reaney, concluded by a showing of the film, “The Paradise Paradox,” which explores mental health in mountain towns. The evening will be live-streamed for those unable to attend.
On April 14, Ballots and Breakfast will provide a second opportunity for a review on the measure and community questions, taking place at Big Sky Center for the Arts from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Big Sky Wellness District overview
The proposed pair of districts would function similarly to existing special districts in Big Sky, such as fire or water districts. If approved, the districts would be led by elected boards of Big Sky residents from each respective county, joined together via interlocal agreement, and supported by property tax revenues. The districts will then help fund local health and wellness services.
If Big Sky’s Madison County voters choose to create the district, those residents’ current hospital tax revenues would transition from the Madison Valley Hospital District to the new Big Sky district over an eight-year period, as outlined in Senate Bill 260. Three unopposed candidates have applied to serve as trustees and would take office if the measure passes.
With no pre-existing hospital district on the Gallatin County side, voters will be asked to create a new district. If created, an interlocal agreement would allow coordination between the two districts and enable tax revenues from Big Sky’s Madison County residents to support services across the broader Big Sky area, where many residents already receive care. Trustees would be elected following approval.
The initiative is part of Livable Big Sky, a campaign that emphasizes long-term community planning to support health, connectivity and sustainability for residents living and working in the area.
