At the conclusion of the February 19, 2019 City Council work session, Councilmember Yakawich informed Council that he would like to request $15,000 of FY 2019 Council Contingency for the USS Billings commissioning event. Council Contingency is budgeted at $65,000 each year and the Council may use it for emergencies or to take advantage of opportunities that weren't foreseen when the Council approved that year's budget.  The Contingency account has a FY 2019 balance of $65,000.  The Council's custom has been to adopt a resolution that approves the designated expense and moves the funds to the proper operating account.  Since there may not be a contract in place by the end of the fiscal year, the attached resolution requires staff to encumber the funds for the FY 2019 budget year, or if accounting rules prohibit it, to re-budget the funds in FY 2020.  That would increase the Council Contingency to $80,000 on a one-time basis. 

City Council may:

• Approve the resolution that directs staff to reserve $15,000 Council Contingency for the 2019 USS Billings commissioning, or;
• Disapprove the resolution, 

There are sufficient funds in the FY 2019 Council Contingency account to pay for this expense. This is a small part of an effort to raise $400,000 for the associated costs.  Some of the proposed uses for the funding, per Councilman Yakawich, are as follows:
Preparation to purchase coins, tee shirts, hats to be used for fundraising.
Other Draft Budget Ideas: Goal $400K

Note: excess money would be given to scholarship USS Billings youth and fund any additional needs for the crew.

Staff recommends that the City Council approve a Resolution reserving $15,000 of FY 2019 Council Contingency account funds for the 2019 USS Billings commissioning event, or to re-budget the funds in the FY 2020 budget, if necessary.