The Wrangell Borough Assembly met Tuesday evening, May 12, to adopt some amendments to the FY 2020 budget. The city recently received both its Secure Rural Schools funding, as well as a grant for COVID-19 mitigation efforts.
The SRS money came in on April 28, according to the meeting's agenda packet, in the amount of $883,646.51. The SRS is a federal program that assists municipalities that have federal lands that cannot be taxed, allowing them to recoup some of the funding that is "lost" by having federal land. The SRS money is designed to go towards supporting school districts and local road systems. For FY 2020, according to the agenda packet, these recently received funds will be kept in reserve for future appropriations. The assembly approved this item.
Another amendment to the budget came in the form of a grant from the state of Alaska. The Designated Legislative Grant is for $35,348, which is coming out of the state's commercial passenger vessel tax. The money, according to the agenda packet, must be spent on COVID-19 mitigation efforts related to the cruise industry. Some examples of how the money could be spent include dock security and screening staff, a screening tent at the port, infrared scanning thermometers, or hiring additional staff for more robust cleaning of public restrooms. Grant funds that are not used in FY 2020 will roll over into FY 2021, the agenda packet reads, as the money is going into the transient tax fund. The assembly also approved this item.
On the topic of budgets, Borough Manager Lisa Von Bargen reported that work was ongoing on the FY 2021 budget. As things stood right now, with revenue losses from the pandemic and assuming no capital facilities projects for the upcoming year, the city was looking at a deficit in the general fund of $500,000. More information regarding this would be coming before the assembly soon, she said.
The assembly also adopted a new resolution that rescinds two previous emergency orders issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Emergency Orders 3-17-20 and 3-22-20 were both outdated and no longer in line with current state mandates. The orders, passed back in March, were meant to close local restaurants and bars to sit-in service and to issue a shelter in place order to the wider public. In place of these local orders, the new resolution rescinding them puts in place a set of recommendations for community safety. The public is asked to continue social distancing, wearing face masks, and staying home if one is feeling ill. The resolution also asks everybody to be respectful to each other through this trying time.
During the meeting, the assembly also approved of a revised budget calendar for FY 2021, adopted a resolution in support of the Coronavirus Relief Fund Flexibility Act, and held an executive session regarding the collective bargaining process.
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