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Greg Carter’s Whitefish Real Estate September Newsletter

by

Greg Carter

 

 

 

I chose Montana’s Flathead Valley as an ideal place for my family. It’s proven to be one of the country’s most dynamic areas with great growth potential over the next 10 years. Call me today at 406.250.9000.

On the Roads

By Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon

From the end of May until the kids go back to school, the roadways in the Flathead Valley are full of automobiles of all makes and models, many of which are touting out-of-state or Canadian license plates.

Summer is heavy tourism season in the valley, and while airport statistics show more people are flying into the Flathead than ever, the roads and highways are clogged with cars, trucks, RVs, bicycles, motorcycles, and other modes of wheeled travel.

With the understanding that this traffic volume isn’t likely going to decrease in the summers anytime soon, city, county, and state officials are discussing plans for the future of these roadways and how to keep them drivable.

City Level

In Whitefish, city officials and other stakeholders in the tourism industry, including businesses, have started the process of drafting a Sustainable Tourism Master Plan, which would help the city map out how it wants to manage increased tourism.

“It’s not about growing tourism,” said Whitefish Public Works Director Craig Workman. “We’re trying to manage it in a responsible manner.”

Workman is part of the group discussing the plan, which will have public meetings again starting in September, and works on the subcommittee on traffic, congestion, and transportation.

Already, the Montana Department of Transportation has plans to continue working on the Whitefish U.S. 93 Urban Corridor Study, which looks to address the downtown environment, as well as local and through-traffic needs. The plan will explore improvement options for Highway 93 through the city, along with other streets with high traffic.

READ MORE…click here.

174 Armory Road, Whitefish, MT 59937

MLS #21808966 Offered at $479,000

Whitefish home in wonderful neighborhood close to schools and downtown with Cow Creek frontage. Home has 5 bedrooms & 4 full bathrooms. Master, 2 bedrooms & bath on 2nd level, bedroom with full bath on main level. Lower level has apartment with full kitchen, bedroom with full bathroom and office. Use apartment for income potential or separate living quarters. Green space behind home fronts Cow Creek, providing privacy & tranquility. Foot bridge from green space over Cow Creek provides walking path to grade school and high school. Property is agent owned.

RACING WITH TRADITION

EPISODE TWENTY-EIGHT: OPEN ROAD

Native Americans continue their traditional relay horse racing.

The Great Northwest Oktoberfest

First Weekend:

Thursday, September 27:  5 pm to 11 pm
Friday, September 28: 5 pm to 11 pm
Saturday, September 29: 12 noon to 11 pm

Second Weekend:

Wednesday, October 3:  6 pm. to 8 p.m. (at the Firebrand Hotel)
Thursday, October 4: 5 pm to 11 pm
Friday, October 5: 5 pm to 11 pm
Saturday, October 6: 12 noon to 11 pm

The Great Northwest Oktoberfest takes place under the “Oktoberfest Bigtop” in Depot Park, located in the heart of downtown Whitefish, Montana. Depot Park is located on the corner of Spokane Ave. and Railroad St., in front of the historic Whitefish Train Depot. Click here for more info…

Great Fish 5k Color Run and Community Fair

NEARLY $4M IN RESORT TAX COLLECTED IN FY 2018

August 28, 2018 at 3:48 pm | By Heidi Desch | Whitefish PIlot

Whitefish collected nearly $4 million in resort tax during fiscal year 2018.

In FY18 the city collected $3.98 million, which is an increase in resort tax collections over the previous two fiscal year periods, according to the city. FY18 runs from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018.

In FY17 the city collected about $3.6 million in resort tax, while in FY16 it collected about $3.2 million.

The resort tax is collected on lodging, bar and restaurant food and drinks and “luxury” retail items.

Assistant City Manager and Finance Director Dana Smith said the resort tax collections for FY18 were 9 percent higher than in FY17.

While most of the increase in collections is in lodging at 14 percent, retail and bars/restaurants are seeing an increase as well in the 6 to 8 percent range, Smith noted.

“This trend has allowed for additional property tax relief in the FY19 budget because any amount collected over the budgeted amount must be returned to taxpayers as additional property tax relief,” Smith said.

The tax was first implemented at 2 percent in 1996 with 65 percent collected going to street and water projects, 25 percent to a property tax rebate and 5 percent kept by business owners to administer the tax. Voters in 2016 approved a 1 percent increase in the tax with 75 percent of collections going to the Haskill Basin conservation easement and 25 percent toward property tax rebates.

Rocky Mountain Real Estate