Whitefish, Montana — A new tax will add an additional charge to visitors of Whitefish Mountain Resort, but the proceeds will be going towards a good purpose.
On June 1st, a new 3% tax will go into effect in the Big Mountain Resort Area District, which is located at Whitefish Mountain Resort. This resort tax will include various things that you can buy at the ski resort, such as lift tickets, retail items, and food at restaurants. Interestingly, those who purchase a Whitefish season pass before June 1st won’t need to pay the tax, while those who buy it on June 1st or afterwards will.
According to the Whitefish Pilot, the measure was approved overwhelmingly by members of the Big Mountain Resort Area District. However, the ski resort didn’t get a vote on the matter because it was not a resident. Leaders from the ski resort did voice their concerns about the proposal. One concern was that this tax will mostly effect locals, as the majority of visitors at Whitefish Mountain Resort are from Flathead County.
The plan is for the tax revenue raised will be used to improve the Big Mountain Resort Area District’s infrastructure. The major priorities are providing reliable financial support to the Big Mountain Fire District, which is critically under funded, along with other emergency operations around the ski resort. Other potential usages for the revenue include road improvements, recreational trail maintenance, property tax relief, worker housing, expanding public transportation, and supporting non-profits like DREAM Adaptive.
Image Credits: Whitefish Mountain Resort, Flathead County Elections Department
