Gallatin County Commission Considering Placing Mill Levy To Fund Rest Home on November Ballot

The Gallatin County Commission is considering asking voters to decide on a mill levy to fund operations of the Gallatin Rest Home, the soon-to-be only skilled nursing facility in the county.

On Tuesday, July 26, commissioners unanimously passed a resolution of intent to put a 9-mill levy on the November general election ballot. Nine mills would raise, at the fiscal year 2022 value, $3,933,459 annually.

A resolution of intent sets a public hearing for a decision on an item the commission is considering, and gives notice so that the public can participate in the decision-making process. Commissioners will formally consider adding the question to the November ballot at their Aug. 9 regularly-scheduled public meeting.

The Gallatin County Rest Home is a 69-bed, state-licensed nursing facility certified to provide skilled Medicare/Medicaid coverage providing long term, respite, hospice and rehabilitation care. It is located at 1221 Durston Rd. in Bozeman.

“We’re extremely proud of the high-quality care that we provide our most vulnerable citizens close to home,” said Gallatin County Rest Home Administrator Darcel Vaughn. “We look forward to educating the community on the needed medical services our facility offers.”

Currently, the Rest Home is funded by a combination of non-tax revenues and the county’s general operating mill.

Gallatin County is facing financial hardship in funding the Rest Home and providing a high level of patient care for various reasons, including inadequate Medicare/Medicaid rates that do not sufficiently cover the cost of providing care, rising salary expenses and housing costs that make hiring long-term employees difficult, associated costs for hiring contract nurses to fill vacant positions, the increased costs of food and supplies, and the continued need to pay for building maintenance and repairs. 

Gallatin County Commissioners agreed that the time is ripe for the community to weigh in and for voters to decide on how the facility is funded moving forward.

“This is a very needed facility and one that I’ve been really proud to be associated with during my time as a commissioner,” said Gallatin County Commissioner Joe Skinner. “It’s a good facility that serves our neediest constituents and one that people want to go to. I can see the value of having a service like that in our community. But that’s just a decision we don’t feel comfortable making without asking the question to the taxpayers.”

If passed, the mill levy would fund operational and capital needs, including, but not limited to, patient care, staffing, food, supplies, and building maintenance and repairs. The $3,933,495, or a similar amount imposed in future years, will provide for a substantial component of the operational and capital needs of the Rest Home and will ensure that this vital service is provided to the public in a professional and competent manner.

For Gallatin County taxpayers, the estimated annual tax increase per $100,000 of assessed value is $12.15.

For Gallatin County property owners, the below table shows the approximate tax impact of the levy depending on the assessed value (NOT market value) of your property. To find your property’s assessed value, visit itax.gallatin.mt.gov.

The public is encouraged to provide comment in any of the following ways:

• Attend the Tuesday, Aug. 9 public meeting at 9 AM, either in person or on Zoom. The meeting will take place in the Community Room of the Gallatin County Courthouse, 311 W. Main St. in Bozeman. A Zoom link to the meeting will be posted here on Aug. 4.
• Email comments to commission@gallatin.mt.gov.
• Call the Gallatin County Commission office at 406-582-3000.
• Drop off written comment at the Gallatin County Commission Office, located in room 306 of the Gallatin County Courthouse.