The Billings Industrial Revitalization District (BIRD) Board of Directors is presenting this recommendation to the City Council for allocating $21,660 in tax increment finance district funds (TIFD) from the East Billings Urban Renewal District (EBURD) to White Heating and Air Conditioning for improvements the company made during a renovation/addition to its offices at 1125 4th Avenue North in 2016. If approved, the TIFD funds will reimburse the applicant for costs associated with new sidewalk and drive approaches, landscaping, architect, engineering and permit fees, storm water management, and improvements to utilities for the site. The renovation project was done in compliance with the East Billings Urban Revitalization District Code. The BIRD Board of Directors voted to support funding of this application at its meeting on October 18, 2016 under its authority per the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Billings, Big Sky Economic Development, and the BIRD, Inc. approved by the City Council in February 2014.  

↵The City Council is the final authority in dispersing TIFD funding. The City Council may:

• Approve the recommendation from the BIRD Board for the expenditure of these TIFD funds, or;
• Disapprove the recommendation from the BIRD Board for the expenditure of these TIFD funds.

The request is for a total of $21,660 to be paid in one payment to White Heating and Air Conditioning. The funds are payable upon approval of this TIFD application by the City Council and submittal of an invoice to the City Finance Department. There is about $182,000 available in the FY16-17 EBURD project budget for payment of this TIFD assistance. The current total cash balance for the EBURD, before tax payments are received in December, is about $840,000.

The Billings Industrial Revitalization District (BIRD) Board of Directors recommends that the City Council approve a reimbursement totaling $21,660 from the EBURD tax increment finance district funds to White Heating and Air Conditioning.