A partial funding solution for Whitefish affordable housing

Editor’s note: This letter was planned to be read as a public comment on items not on agenda at the Feb. 7 Whitefish City Council meeting.

After listening to comments at planning board and council meetings, the need for affordable housing comes front and foremost in importance.

I would propose a partial solution to help fund housing. Why not re-direct the TPA — Tourism Promotion Assessment? This is the “optional” 1% on restaurant receipts, car rentals and lodging. We then have tourist participation in funding housing.

This 1% equals about 1 million dollars per year, and is growing yearly. We could build homes like Habitat or start an apprentice program.

We no longer need tourism promotion. Most of our community is happy to pay the 1% - if it were to go toward housing.

The TPA has recently been re-branded by the visitor and convention bureau as the CSF — Community Sustainability Fund. What better way to sustain our community than through housing.

Nancy Schuber, Whitefish