Okaloosa County BOCC — August 18, 2015 — Requesting approval to submit an application for TSA funding — agenda request

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: August 18, 2015 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Sunil Harman SUBJECT: Requesting approval to submit an application for TSA funding DEPARTMENT: Airport BCC DISTRICT: 2 STATEMENT OF ISSUE: The Department of Airports requests approval by the Board of County Commissioners to submit an application for the Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) Reimbursement Program for FY 2016 through FY 2018. BACKGROUND: The LEO Reimbursement Program assists airports financially in meeting their responsibilities with respect to security and law enforcement response time at the passenger screening area. The existing program reimburses the Airport at the rate of $20 an hour during the 18 hours the checkpoint is in operation. The existing program will be extended through December 2015, so this application will cover the three years beginning January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018. The Destin -Fort Walton Beach Airport's actual average hourly rate fully burdened with fringe benefits averages $31.35 an hour which would mean a maximum reimbursement of $617,780 over the period of the agreement. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has indicated that the forecast of available funding authority in its FY 2016 budget request may limit reimbursement to the $20 maximum rate currently in effect. The non-federal share (local match) is estimated at $1,338,524 over the three year covered period. The Airports Department is also requesting consideration of a request for supplemental funding as reimbursement for the construction of the Automated Exit Lane based on significant labor cost savings to the TSA by the project's implementation. As the Agency no longer has to pay personnel to perform its obligation to provide security at the exit lane. The Federal Security Director for this area plans to support this request. OPTIONS: Approve, Disapprove, Table RECOMMENDATIONS: Airport staff recommends the Board's approval of the TSA LEO and Automated Exit lane project reimbursement application and authorization for the Chairman to sign the application. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: John Hofstad, County Administrator