Resort Tax details: What will be taxed?
By Amelia Wood
The Philipsburg Town Council recently approved the draft ordinance language for the proposed resort tax that will be on the ballot June 4. This will allow residents to examine and consider some the details of the tax before voting. Specifically, Council President Scott Lyons said in a recent interview that this will help residents understand some of the nuances of the tax.
“The law says that the purpose of all this is to tax tourists,” said Lyons. “Well, what do tourists buy? They don’t buy off-road vehicles or side-by-sides. Locals do. So that won’t be taxed.”
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The Philipsburg Town Council recently approved the draft ordinance language for the proposed resort tax that will be on the ballot June 4. This will allow residents to examine and consider some the details of the tax before voting. Specifically, Council President Scott Lyons said in a recent interview that this will help residents understand some of the nuances of the tax.
“The law says that the purpose of all this is to tax tourists,” said Lyons. “Well, what do tourists buy? They don’t buy off-road vehicles or side-by-sides. Locals do. So that won’t be taxed.”
For the entire story, please subscribe to the print edition.
Plans for fairground grandstand talliedBy Luke Ulatowski
The Powell County Commissioners signed off on a three-phase $47,000 plan by Mosaic Architecture to evaluate temporary fixes for the Tri-County Fairgrounds’ grandstand on April 22, with the second phase well in progress. Mosaic first began analysis of the grandstand’s structural integrity in October of last year as the county pursued funding for a preliminary architectural report of all the fairgrounds’ facilities, eventually leading the firm to strongly recommend against the use of the grandstand at full capacity in March. Initial concerns were about the stability of the roof, and Mosaic has since completed 3D scans underneath the grandstand that are still being analyzed by project partner Stahly Engineering. For the full story, please subscribe to the print edition. |
Voters to decide on school district leviesBy Luke Ulatowski Powell County Superintendent of Schools Kerry Glisson explained which levies will appear on rural school district ballots in the May 7 school elections. Residents living in the boundaries of one of three school districts will vote on whether or not to adopt a general fund levy comprising $4,457.59 for Garrison Elementary School District 20, $8,203.88 for Elliston School District 27 or $35,654.42 for Avon School District 29. According to the Montana Office of Public Instruction, a minimum school district budget, or BASE budget, consists of 80% of a district’s basic entitlement and basic “Average Number Belonging” entitlement from the state, along with 100% of funds for state-imposed components such as those for at-risk student programs. A maximum budget uses 100% of entitled funds. For the full story, please subscribe to the print edition. Beaumont Place owner defends housing projectBy Luke Ulatowski
Beaumont Place owner Lin Hicks detailed the types of houses he plans to develop on his 44-acre property while quelling some rumors at a community meeting on April 23 at the Powell County Community Center. The meeting was organized by Deer Lodge resident Desera Towle in cooperation with Hicks and other members of his team, including Erland Gendreau of G&E Engineering, the civil engineer for the planned 211-unit project. |