Heidi and Ruts on the Sky Peak Quad

Heidi and Ruts on the Sky Peak Quad

Seasonably cool temperatures, and constant snow flurries, have maintained consistent skiing and riding surfaces all week. With the possible exception that the Super Pipe is now open at Bear Mountain, not much has changed this week at the ski resort. Around town, however, 3 stories in the press have generated a little attention.

"The Mouse that Roared"
In an annual ritual, the Killington Selectboard has filed a request to the State contesting the calculations used by the State to determine local property taxes. Each year, in lieu of a complete physical reassessment, the State of Vermont uses a magic formula derived from property sales to calculate a Common Level of Appraisal to equalize property tax rates state wide. Since the inception of Act 60, which created a state wide property tax to fund education, the Killington Selectboard has had issues with the way the State equalizes the tax rate for Killington real estate. Because very few properties were sold in Killington in 2008 as a result of the current economic downturn, the Selectboard has once again challenged the State's methods.

"Let the chips fall where they lay"
A comment by the Vermont State Auditor, Thomas Salmon, has gotten the attention of more than a few individuals. Mr. Salmon suggested that one of the ways Vermont could possibly make up it's budget shortfall could be to "Consider a state-owned casino in a resort area like Killington, with net profits directly to roads, bridges and infrastructure". The story was picked up by the Associated Press and has since circulated around the globe. Summit Lodge owner, Bill Bauer, was quoted in the story as being in favor of the proposal. Tom Horrocks spokesman for the resort, was also quoted as saying the idea is worth considering. Other than generating some chatter around town, it is too early to tell if this story has legs. State officials were quoted in the story as being negative on the proposal. Conversations I have had with friends around town is mixed. Local business people would clearly like to see more tourists drawn to the area. The concept of giving all of the proceeds to the State, as outlined in the AP story, has raised a few eyebrows however, as the town would undoubtedly take on additional responsibilities and expenses if a casino were placed in Killington.

"Our blizzard trumps your depression"
Bruce Edwards of the Rutland Herald Staff wrote a story about attendance at ski resorts in Vermont over the just past Martin Luther King Weekend. Comments by Parker Riehle of the Vermont Ski Areas Association were subdued. Since Parker's job is to promote skiing in Vermont, subdued comments can be looked upon as neutral at best. The Okemo Resort in Ludlow made statements indicating that skier visits were "comparable with other winter weekends but below skier visit numbers over last year's MLK holiday" Bolton Valley spokesman, Josh Arneson, commented that "business throughout the MLK holiday was even with last year, including day traffic and lodging." Tom Horrocks from Killington said that "Skier visits at Killington... are running 2 percent to 4 percent ahead of last season."

Comments attributed to Tom caught some attention yesterday with local business people I spoke with. In fairness to Tom, tracking overall activity in the resort is fraught with danger as peoples memories are colored by what happened "yesterday". Unless you are using rigorous statistical methods, personal opinions will flavor the results. Many people I spoke with thought business in Killington over the MLK weekend was down. But on the flip side, because the Christmas/New Years holiday period stretched to a full 2 weeks this year, overall business for the season seems like it is an anxiety creating push so far. If the economy were roaring, there would be few concerns. But since no one is standing in line to help businesses in Killington get through the national economic turmoil, daily business upticks/downticks are being examined under a magnifying glass.

Of course, all of these stories are fodder for active minds enjoying libations in any number of Killington establishments and at "water coolers" in offices down country where Killington skiers and riders do their day jobs. The good news in all of this is that the doldrums of January are almost behind us. And since ski conditions on the mountain are great, thats a good thing.......let it snow!