Resort tax on primary ballot in Columbia Falls, Montana

COLUMBIA FALLS, Mont. – Voters in Columbia Falls, Montana will see a resort tax proposal on their primary ballots in June targeting tourist-related items, alcohol, restaurant meals and other non-essential goods.

The 3% tax would go into effect Oct. 1 and be effective for 20 years if approved, Hungry Horse News reported Wednesday.

The measure would only appear on the ballots of residents from Columbia Falls, and is seen as a way to capture tourist and visitor revenue without taxing property owners, city officials said.

The tax is expected to raise about $450,000 initially from predominantly taxing the service industry, including restaurant meals, alcohol, vacation rentals, car and truck rentals and items defined as luxuries under the proposed law, officials said.

City Council voted unanimously last week to put the tax on the ballot.