Gallatin County sets May 5 ballot for Big Sky Wellness Hospital District after public testimony

The Gallatin County Commission on Jan. 13 approved a resolution to place a May 5, 2026 election on the ballot asking Gallatin County residents in the Big Sky area whether to form the Big Sky Wellness Hospital District.

At a public hearing, Jackie Haines, director of economic and strategic initiatives for the Big Sky Resort Area District, described the petition’s background and funding framework, saying the petition seeks to create a contiguous Gallatin‑side hospital district that would operate alongside a Madison County district under an interlocal agreement during an eight‑year funding 'step down.' Haines said the Madison Valley Hospital District will remit portions of nine voter‑approved mills to the new district for eight years to allow the new district to stabilize its finances.

"In order to allow funds to flow across the entire community, we are seeking to create an independent but contiguous hospital district in the Gallatin County side of Big Sky," Haines said, and urged the commission to approve the resolution that would put the issue before voters.

Kelly Helmas, administrator of Big Sky Medical Center, speaking on behalf of Bozeman Health, told commissioners the 8‑bed critical access hospital provides local emergency, inpatient and outpatient services and remains subsidized by Bozeman Health because "our cost to operate Big Sky Medical Center exceeds its revenues." Helmas described service volumes and said predictable local funding could help the center adapt to growing demand.

Kiernan Bolden, director of programs for the nonprofit Wellness and Action in Big Sky, highlighted mental‑health and social‑service needs in the community, citing assessments that, according to Bolden, show "1 in 3 Big Sky residents report depression or anxiety" and raised concerns about adolescent suicide attempts, substance use and food insecurity as reasons to let voters decide.

County Clerk and Recorder Eric Semerat explained procedural details for the petition and election: the petition and boundary exhibits were received in December, the filing window for trustees was set for Jan. 20–Feb. 4 under this year’s legislative filing schedule, and the clerk said candidate filing would open if the commission approved the resolution. He also said ballot language had been edited to align with state law.

A commissioner moved to approve Resolution 2026‑003 calling for the election; the motion was seconded and commissioners voted to approve the resolution. The clerk said that, if the election creates the district, trustees would be elected concurrently and that if the number of candidates equals or is fewer than the number of seats the election could be canceled and appointments would follow according to applicable statutes.

What happens next: Passage of the resolution opens candidate filing for the three trustee seats; the clerk’s office will accept filings from Jan. 20 through Feb. 4. The election is scheduled for May 5, 2026, if the district is created.