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Item 1.F.
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| City Council Regular | |
| Date: | 12/11/2023 |
| Title: | Beartooth RC&D Memorandum of Understanding |
| Presented by: | Chris Kukulski, City Administrator |
| Department: | City Hall Administration |
| Presentation: | No |
| Legal Review: | Yes |
| Project Number: | N/A |
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the MOU with Beartooth RC&D for 2024.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
The Beartooth Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc. (Beartooth RC&D) is asking the City Council to renew a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Beartooth's economic development services through December 31, 2024. Beartooth RC&D is a State and Federally grant-funded, rural and economic development agency that has operated since 1969 in five south-central Montana counties, including Yellowstone County. State and Federal funds are matched in Yellowstone County by a $4,500 membership fee, plus a per capita assessment of .19 cents per person, ($32,271.88) totaling $36,771.88, which is split among the County, the Big Sky Economic Development, and the cities of Billings and Laurel. The City of Billings's portion of that amount is $13,237.88 or 36%. Those paying membership fees are represented on the Beartooth Board of Directors; the current Billings representative is Councilmember Danny Choriki. See the attached 2023 projects list and 2023 BRCD Annual Impact Statement.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may consider approval, postponement of action or disapproval of MOU and payment.
FISCAL EFFECTS
The Entity's annual contribution will be $4,500 as a "Membership" fee, plus a per capita assessment of .19 cents per person. These funds will provide the necessary match to obtain the $70,000 in Federal funds. The calculated fee for the Entity is $36,771.88. This figure is a total of the $4,500 county fee, plus $32,271.88 per capita formula using a population of 169,852 x (.19) as per the 2022 Census data. The Entity's full payment is separated into a four-way payment system. Each entity within the county pays a percentage (%) similar to the previous year. Big Sky EDA - 34% or $12,502.44; City of Billings - 36% or $13,237.88, City of Laurel - 6% or $2,206.31; and Yellowstone County - 24% or $8,825.25.