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Montana towns need tax, policy tweaks to coexist with tourists

“Above all, proactive action is required for amenity communities to maintain the qualities that make them great. These places have a vibrancy that depends on protecting the very things that attract people to live and play there. Once amenities begin to erode, it can be very difficult to get them back.”
The paradox of a place with natural attractions that make it a great place to live but also threaten it with being ‘loved to death’ is what is known as the amenity trap.”
Close to 4 million visitors a year pass through West Yellowstone, hoping they won’t need an ambulance service supported by barely a thousand local taxpayers.
Places like Whitefish and Bozeman have booming ski resorts, but no place where resort workers can afford to live. Those tourist-driven challenges might have tourist-paid solutions, according to a new report by Headwaters Economics that examines the double-edged sword of benefits and burdens for communities known for their outdoor recreation amenities.
Joshua Murdock
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