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Heather Morris urges Big Sky to form hospital and wellness district to keep local tax dollars
Summary
Public commenter Heather Morris urged the Big Sky community to vote to create a hospital and wellness district under Senate Bill 260, saying it would keep local hospital tax revenue in the community and elect a local board; she said ballots will be mailed after April 15 and the vote is May 5.
Heather Morris, a Big Sky resident, told the school board during public comment that the community should back a ballot initiative to form a Big Sky hospital and wellness district under Senate Bill 260.
Morris said the measure would let local voters decide whether to exit the Madison Valley Hospital District and create a district governed by an elected three‑member board. "This is a chance for our community to keep our tax dollars in Big Sky," she said, adding that Madison County residents last year contributed "over $3,000,000" to the hospital in Ennis.
Morris described the stepped transfer of hospital tax revenue that would occur if a local district forms: "Madison Valley Medical Center will get 70% of the hospital taxes collected this year, 60% over the next 3 years, then 40% for 2 years, and then 20% for the final 2 years," she said. She emphasized the formation vote itself would not build a hospital or direct which organizations receive funding. "This will not add any new taxes," Morris said, noting ballots will be mailed after April 15 and the vote is on May 5.
Board trustees asked Morris for clarifications about who is running on the Gallatin County side and whether the proposal would impose new levies; Morris and other speakers identified several candidates on the Gallatin side and reiterated that, as described, formation itself would not add Gallatin‑side taxes. The public comment closed after trustees thanked Morris and said they would share her information with the board.
The board did not take formal action on the proposal during the meeting; Morris urged residents to register to vote (regular registration was noted to close April 6) and to return ballots on the May 5 vote.
Why it matters: Forming a local hospital and wellness district would change which local entity receives a share of hospital tax revenue and could shift long‑term control over how those funds are invested in local health and wellness services. In this meeting Morris laid out the timetable and revenue split that supporters expect if the initiative appears on the ballot.
