Commissioners consider resort taxes, airport fees and scheduling to shore up county budget

Commissioners and staff reviewed several options to increase non‑property revenue and free up mills for county priorities. Staff said the airport could generate landing and fuel fees and that resort‑tax districts were being explored; staff cautioned that resort districts must meet statutory tests (population caps and workforce metrics) and that some revenue tools are not broadly available to Montana counties.

Commissioners also discussed procedural next steps: because the preliminary budget requires public notice, staff recommended noticing a formal meeting later in the week to set reserve levels and to publish the preliminary budget for a public hearing. One commissioner highlighted that resort taxes have strict eligibility rules and that tourism‑driven bed and sales taxes often go to the state rather than back to the county; staff agreed to continue working on potential revenue options and present more detail at the noticed meeting.