We have an opportunity to fund a permanent land conservation agreement that will protect our drinking water. Haskill Basin provides some 75 percent of Whitefish’s drinking water and protecting that water source is important to me and my family.
I was curious to know how our household would be affected by using the resort tax to pay for the city’s water source in Haskill Basin. A 3 percent resort tax would result in our property taxes being reduced by approximately $178. We would have to purchase nearly $6,000 annually in taxable items in restaurants, bars and retail stores to equal what we would receive in property tax relief. I am quite sure we do not spend $500 per month on items that are taxed.
I was also curious about the demographics of Whitefish. According to the 2010 census, the population was 6,357, with 2,982 total households. The median income was $43,117 (compared to $98,300 in Calgary in 2012). Those with low and moderate incomes were 40.98 percent, and 17.3 percent of Whitefish residents were living in POVERTY. 18.4 percent of our residents were over 60 years of age, indicating many were on a fixed income.
Voting to use the resort tax would mean that these people on fixed incomes would have additional money in their households. It is interesting to note that when the first resort tax law was enacted, the Department of Commerce determined that the main source of income for Whitefish was not derived from tourism, but came from retirement income. I could not find any recent studies as to how much this had changed, but that study opened our eyes as to the number and importance of retirees living in town.
What is the most equitable way to safeguard our watershed? Adding a big increase to water bills could impact the 17 percent living in poverty and seniors on fixed incomes. Adding it to property taxes would only decrease the affordability for those trying to make a living and own a home. We often hear that teachers, firemen and families cannot afford to live here. With a very expensive sewer upgrade pending, we are about to get a double whammy in our utility bills.
We have an $8 million bill to purchase the conservation easement in the Haskill Basin Watershed. Should that very large amount be divided among the 5,200 water users or spread out among the 500,000-plus visitors who spend at least one night in Whitefish?
Personally, I prefer paying to permanently protect our water source in Haskill Basin by using the resort tax over the next 10 years. This would help protect those who can least afford it and help pass on the costs to those visitors who can. I ask you to check your property tax bill to see if you will come out ahead. Plus, the more we buy locally and increase the resort tax collections, the more property tax relief we receive and our retail, restaurant and bar owners will reap the benefits and be more successful.
Jan Metzmaker lives in Whitefish.