Park County approves remainder of 2026 Culver Pass/Cook City/Silver Gate resort-tax applications

After tabling the disputed Cook City Water District application, the Park County Board of Commissioners voted to appropriate the rest of the Culver Pass / Cook City / Silver Gate 2026 resort-tax applications.

Finance Director Eric Strickland presented the packet totals and individual requests, saying the “cash figure is fine” and that most applications fell under the available $302,882.80. He read a list of applicants and amounts included in the packet: Community Council (listed amounts in packet), Community Council backup generators ($15,000), Community Council Shakespeare in the Park ($1,492), Community Council Forget Me Not Festival ($10,000), Chamber of Commerce executive director salary and other ($72,000), Cook City Elementary School ($22,000), Park County Sheriff's Office overtime in Cook City ($7,500), Cook City Emergency Service ($22,500), Cook City Water debt payment / MOU ($30,000), Yellowstone Snowmobile Club ($15,000), and Trout Unlimited for culvert replacements ($20,000).

Strickland told the board that aside from the Cook City Water District item, the requests fit within the available funding. Commissioner Welch moved to appropriate the 2026 resort-tax applications for the Culver Pass/Cook City/Silver Gate area, excluding the tabled Cook City Water District application; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.

Commissioners instructed staff to follow up on the tabled Cook City Water District item and to return a reconciled record when the documentation is available.