Gardiner Resort Area District

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On behalf of the Gardiner Resort District Board, we would like to wish you a Happy New Year and sincerely thank you for your continued support and engagement. The past year was a busy and productive one for the board as we worked to strengthen our connection with the community and improve how we serve Gardiner. We are especially grateful to everyone who wrote to us, shared feedback, or attended meetings. Hearing from a wide range of voices helps guide decisions that affect our entire community.

At the December 9, 2025 meeting, the board reviewed the 2025 remittance allocations. While we like to joke that it’s our favorite meeting of the year—because it feels a bit like playing Santa Claus—it was also one of the most challenging. This year, funding requests totaled $1,345,405, while $890,371 was available to award. Through thoughtful discussion, scenario-building, negotiation, and consideration of public input, the board worked carefully to balance community needs and priorities.

We are pleased to share the following organizations and projects that received funding during this grant cycle, reflecting our collective investment in Gardiner’s people, services, and future.

All organizations received the full amount requested except where noted.

• Electric Peaks Arts Council received $5,000 for its Youth Initiative and $1,920 for Shakespeare in the Parks.
• Entre Nous was awarded $2,000 to support Scout House operating expenses.
• North Yellowstone Education Foundation received $15,000 for grant writing and $20,000 for the Connect! Grants program.
• Gardiner Public Schools was awarded $166,725 for a bleacher improvement project; the track project request of $100,000 was not funded as it was removed by Superintendent Sheri Modderman to prioritize the bleacher project request.
• Gateway Hose Company received $42,032 toward a fire engine payment and $11,180 for fire hose handling equipment.
• Gardiner Chamber of Commerce received funding for snow removal ($2,675), public trash refuse service ($5,460), and an ADA-compliant door opener ($7,500).
• Gardiner Water & Sewer received $276,000 for Water Treatment Plant improvements and $30,000 for the Jardine Water Storage Tank.
• Greater Gardiner Community Center was awarded $16,913 for operating expenses.
• HRDC District IX received $287,966 toward the Travertine Community Homes project.
• Park County Streetscapes did not receive the $480,000 requested due to community prioritization and input from written correspondence and the public in attendance at the December 9th meeting.

These awards support essential services, community spaces, public safety, and long-term infrastructure improvements throughout Gardiner.

For a full breakdown of how tax funds are allocated, plus photos of past community grant projects, visit the GRAD website.

Tax Allocation Reminder

As a reminder, here is a quick breakdown of how the tax remittances are allocated.

The original 3% resort tax (voted in 2014):

• 5% GRAD District Operations
• 5% Business Collection Reimbursement
• 10% Property Tax Relief
• 10% Gardiner Visitor Center Operations
• Remaining funds allocated by application to the Board:
  • 5% Community Services & Cultural Grants
  • 65% Infrastructure/Community Development

The additional 1% (voted in 2020):​
Dedicated to Gardiner Water and Sewer District infrastructure projects until complete or 2030, whichever comes first.

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If you have any questions regarding the 2025 Tax Allocations, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at gardinerresorttax@gmail.com

📰 GRAD News...in case you missed it!

📇 Business cards with QR codes linking to the GRAD website are now available at the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce. Feel free to stop by for some and share them with your customers that are interested in learning more about what resort tax funds support.

🏛️ Upcoming GRAD Meeting: January 13, 2026

Our next Board meeting is scheduled for:
🗓 Tuesday, January 13, 2026​
🕖 7:00 p.m.​
📍 Upstairs meeting room, Gardiner Chamber of Commerce

Meetings are advertised in this newsletter in advance and are open to the public—we’d love to see you there!

❄️ January does not have any special topics, so it's business as usual!

📰 That said, we will be taking a short hiatus from the monthly newsletter, so expect to hear from us again in April just before the new start of our tax collection season in May!

Can’t attend?
📄 Visit the GRAD website for past meeting notes.​

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and forward this newsletter to a friend!

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