The South Billings Urban Renewal Association (SBURA) Board of Directors is presenting this recommendation to the City Council for allocating $45,675.80 in tax increment funds (TIF) from the South Billings Boulevard Urban Renewal District (SBBURD) to Orchard Elementary School (Billings School District #2). The funds would pay for replacement of fall protection on the Orchard School playground and for installation of outdoor painted math and literacy games for students and neighborhood children to engage when at the playground (See Application Attached). The property is located at 120 Jackson Street in South Billings. The majority of the funding assistance would go toward the rubber mulch fall protection (@$42,000) with the remainder for the educational playground sidewalk/pavement game markings (@$3,000).

While this project will not generate increment, the improvement to the neighborhood school playground will benefit the school students as well as neighborhood residence that use the school playground after hours. This project is in alignment with South Billings Master Plan to improve recreation and education opportunities and the newly amended South Billings Boulevard Urban Renewal Plan which calls for assisting in funding projects and programs in the District to enhance school playgrounds and athletic fields ..." The City Council adopted the South Billings Boulevard Urban Renewal Plan amendments at its meeting on July 22 on second reading of the ordinance.

The application for TIF funding assistance was recommended for approval by the SBURA Board of Directors at its May 7, 2019 meeting.

City Council may:

• Approve the SBURA recommendation and allocate the TIF Funds for this project; or
• Disapprove the SBURA recommendation and not allocate the TIF Funds for this project. This project is in alignment with the newly amended South Billings Boulevard Urban Renewal Plan .

The Development Agreement (See attached) specifies a one-time payment of $45,675.80 to Orchard Elementary School (Billings School District #2) as part of the SBURA TIF Application Program. The funds are payable as reimbursement upon completion of the project. The SBBURD FY20 Budget has about $4.6 million fund balance so there are adequate funds available for payment of this development incentive.
 

The South Billings Urban Renewal Association Board of Directors recommends the City Council approve a $45,675.80 grant from the South Billings Boulevard Urban Renewal District tax increment district funds to assist Orchard Elementary School (Billings School District #2) in playground and outdoor education material improvements.