Commission sets Jan. 13 hearing on petition to create Big Sky Hospital/wellness district
December 24, 2025 | Gallatin County, Montana
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The Gallatin County Commission on Dec. 23 approved a resolution calling a public hearing for Jan. 13, 2026, on a petition to create a Big Sky Hospital/wellness district that would cover the Gallatin County portion of the Big Sky resort-tax boundary.
Jasmine Hall, the county election manager (substituting for the regular staff member), told commissioners that her office received the petition on Dec. 5 and had certified that petitioners exceeded the required threshold: at least 30% of qualified electors who are also property taxpayers within the proposed district. "They have exceeded that," Hall said, referring to the certification exhibits accompanying the petition. The resolution calls for public notice and the Jan. 13 hearing; if commissioners approve the district after the hearing, the proposal would be placed on the May special-purpose-district ballot.
Jackie Haines, representing the Big Sky Resort Area District, summarized why petitioners sought a separate hospital district on the Gallatin County side. Haines said Madison County Big Sky residents negotiated withdrawal from the Madison Valley Hospital District on the Madison side, and an eight-year funding step-down agreement will require Madison Valley Hospital District to collect existing mills and remit a portion to the new district on the Madison side for eight years before the districts may be merged. To allow funds to flow across the whole community, petitioners are seeking a contiguous but independent hospital district on the Gallatin County side that would enter an interlocal agreement with the Madison-side district.
Haines provided an initial fiscal example: "Per state law, an elected board can levy up to 3 mills without voter approval. At today's taxable value, 3 mills would collect $378,000 across the entire district, and 3 mills is equal to $12 on a $500,000 home, $29 on a $1,000,000 home, and $78 on a $2,000,000 home in today's taxable," she said. Haines said there would be no immediate vote to set a mill levy when the district is formed; under the statutory framework an elected board may levy up to 3 mills absent a voter referendum.
Commissioners asked procedural questions about costs and ballot timing. Hall said the county typically bills the proposing district for election costs but sometimes works with nascent districts that have no initial funds; ultimately the county carries the expense if the district cannot pay. The commission approved the resolution calling the hearing (resolution 2025-112) by voice vote.
The Jan. 13 hearing will be the next formal step; if commissioners approve placing the issue on the ballot, voters in the proposed district would consider the creation of the hospital/wellness district in the May 2026 election.
Jasmine Hall, the county election manager (substituting for the regular staff member), told commissioners that her office received the petition on Dec. 5 and had certified that petitioners exceeded the required threshold: at least 30% of qualified electors who are also property taxpayers within the proposed district. "They have exceeded that," Hall said, referring to the certification exhibits accompanying the petition. The resolution calls for public notice and the Jan. 13 hearing; if commissioners approve the district after the hearing, the proposal would be placed on the May special-purpose-district ballot.
Jackie Haines, representing the Big Sky Resort Area District, summarized why petitioners sought a separate hospital district on the Gallatin County side. Haines said Madison County Big Sky residents negotiated withdrawal from the Madison Valley Hospital District on the Madison side, and an eight-year funding step-down agreement will require Madison Valley Hospital District to collect existing mills and remit a portion to the new district on the Madison side for eight years before the districts may be merged. To allow funds to flow across the whole community, petitioners are seeking a contiguous but independent hospital district on the Gallatin County side that would enter an interlocal agreement with the Madison-side district.
Haines provided an initial fiscal example: "Per state law, an elected board can levy up to 3 mills without voter approval. At today's taxable value, 3 mills would collect $378,000 across the entire district, and 3 mills is equal to $12 on a $500,000 home, $29 on a $1,000,000 home, and $78 on a $2,000,000 home in today's taxable," she said. Haines said there would be no immediate vote to set a mill levy when the district is formed; under the statutory framework an elected board may levy up to 3 mills absent a voter referendum.
Commissioners asked procedural questions about costs and ballot timing. Hall said the county typically bills the proposing district for election costs but sometimes works with nascent districts that have no initial funds; ultimately the county carries the expense if the district cannot pay. The commission approved the resolution calling the hearing (resolution 2025-112) by voice vote.
The Jan. 13 hearing will be the next formal step; if commissioners approve placing the issue on the ballot, voters in the proposed district would consider the creation of the hospital/wellness district in the May 2026 election.
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