Resort Tax Increases One Percent in Whitefish

KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) — Visitors to a northern Montana ski destination are going to be paying a little more for lodging and other items as of Wednesday when a 1-percent resort tax kicks in.

The Daily Inter Lake reports  the city of Whitefish is taxing lodging, food, drinks and luxury items at 3 percent instead of 2 under an increase approved by voters in April. Most of the revenue will fund $8 million of a $17 million conservation easement to preserve the city's water supply.

Property owners F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Co. are contributing $4 million toward the easement, with federal forest and wildlife agencies joining the city in funding the rest.

The tax increase is expected to generate $1 million annually and will be in place for the next decade.