Is Whitefish losing its soul?

My husband and I left the town where we met because it had lost its character and heart.

If the sales tax was 7 percent, they raised the city tax to 8.5 percent.

The locals could not afford to shop in the community they lived. Rents became prohibitive for the workers who supported the resort industry. The elderly could not afford to stay in their homes. Middle-class families could not afford to stay and raise their children.

So we opted to leave.

We searched and researched a number of communities in the Rocky Mountains. We both skied and loved being outdoors.

Whitefish ended up on the top of our list and we moved here May 1975.

It was a town in flux at that time and initially we were looked on as interlopers. To this day even as I have called Whitefish home 40 years, I respect those that were born here or came before.

It was what made this community so attractive. The generational families. The youth and exuberance. The sense of community. The diversity of industry: Logging with Plum Creek, Stoltze and American Timber, the aluminum plant, Burlington Northern, the strong education presence, and of course the resort/tourist industry made it even more attractive.

It has grown and not all that have come to Whitefish contribute in a positive way. But I feel they appreciate where they have been even if for only a short time.

I have lived in the city and outside. I prefer the former.

I can walk/bike to most destinations and know the neighbors along the routes. A wave or invite to chat is always part of the journey.

We are in danger of losing our soul.

The prime industry at this point is resort/tourist related. I feel we are in danger of turning into a town of empty houses that have only visitors or owners who arrive when the sun is shining or for holidays. Otherwise... lights on but no one home.

Though the community has grown, it appears the city government has grown at a much faster rate. All this because of the tax system as it exists and its burden on the property owner.

If Whitefish raises its taxes, and with the resort tax already increasing to 3 percent, we are heading down a rabbit hole.

We still don’t know what the county tax will be or what the state is going to impose.

Add to that the Taj Mahal that is going to be the City Hall. Personally, I don’t have a preference about the location of City Hall, but I do object to the dollars being spent on it.

The parking garage is definitely needed, but why not collaborate with BN on their property by the O’Shaughnessy and have four stories, one below ground and three above.

Has this been pursued at all? It has the potential of cutting the initial cost and maintenance exposure as we go forward.

I do appreciate the explanation the city wrote (Pilot, May 20 “City gives facts of proposed budget”). However, I feel very strongly that we are headed in the wrong direction considering that we have no idea what the county or state are pursuing as far as taxes.

I have in the past 10 to 12 years seen many young people who were born here return to raise their families and contribute to this community. They have opened businesses where they can work from home or started new endeavors that have created employment for those seeking jobs outside the resort/tourist industry.

I’m not sure they could survive the burden the city would add with this tax increase and we would lose them again.

I chose to stay here after my husband passed away because this is home. I’m not sure I can stay if the burden of all that has been planned comes to fruition.

— Pat LaTourelle, Whitefish