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Committee reviews resort-tax expenditures and committed funds; discusses sidewalks, ADA trail links and equipment needs
Summary
Members reviewed allocations and rolling commitments from resort-tax collections (including $421,000 to stormwater so far), discussed the sidewalk revolving fund, EDA sidewalk project bids, pool bond obligations, vehicle purchases and new parks/trail proposals including ADA-accessible bridge and vault toilets.
The Red Lodge Resort Tax Review Committee shifted from survey results to a detailed review of expenditures, committed funds and candidate projects supported by resort-tax revenue.
Chair (speaker 4) outlined current receipts and allocations and said the committee has seen $421,000 so far this year that will go to stormwater (a 1% allocation). He explained that some lines—such as tax relief (mandated 5% off the top) and certain water/sewer loan-related allocations—function as rolling or committed items and reduce the amount of discretionary resort-tax revenue available for new projects.
Committee members discussed whether to hold funds in reserve or pay down debts early. The presenter said the city has sometimes chosen to retain cash because interest earnings on deposits have, at times, exceeded the cost of financing. Members noted long lead times for specialty equipment (ambulances and some fire trucks) and that buying vehicles in pairs can be financially advantageous.
Sidewalks and grants: staff reviewed an existing sidewalk revolving fund that offers a 50% match for homeowners and business owners. The committee discussed a $100,000 hold related to an EDA sidewalk project where engineer estimates and grant matches may require additional local funding; staff said bids came in lower than engineers’ estimates and the city is negotiating to expand the project if the grant program will permit it.
Parks and trails: a committee member (speaker 8) proposed trail connectivity projects, an ADA-accessible bridge near Coal Miners Park (estimated ~$5,000), and vault toilets at three parks (estimated ~$20,000 each). The member said he would bring detailed proposals to the parks board and then return to the committee for budget consideration.
Committee members also discussed moving some recurring “parts and projects” budget items below the committed line to preserve discretionary funds while keeping modest reserves for anticipated projects.
Next steps: staff and the Chair will incorporate committee input into the list of candidate projects and provide a prioritized recommendation to the mayor ahead of the council’s budget decisions.
