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MEMORANDUM , <br />TO: Board of County Commissioners <br />FROM: William K. DeBraal, Deputy County Attorney <br />DATE: January 29, 2020 <br />SUBJECT: Approval of Amended Resolutions Establishing Fair Market Rental Rates <br />for Housing Choice Voucher Program <br />Among the County's housing programs is the Housing Choice Voucher Program, formerly known <br />as Section 8 Housing. Federal regulations require the Board to approve by resolution a report <br />of Fair Market Rental Rates on an annual basis. The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV) <br />is a federally funded program administered by the County's Rental Assistance Program. <br />The annual rental rates for our area are 90% to 110% of the current fair market rents that were <br />approved by Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Staff has learned that <br />those are very strict guidelines. In calculating the Three Bedroom rent approved in Resolution <br />2018-085 dated September 18, 2018 for Fiscal Year 2019, staff rounded the calculation causing <br />the Payment Standard to be slightly below 90% of Fair Market Rent by 80¢ for the three <br />bedroom. Staff has received a request from HUD to correct the calculation of the Payment <br />Standard. In correcting the rounding error, the Fair Market Rent increased the three bedroom <br />rent from $1,216 to $1,217. The attached Resolution amends Resolution 2018-085 to reflect <br />the correct rental amounts, as requested by HUD. <br />On its own initiative, staff reviewed the Payment Standard Amounts for the Fair Market Rents <br />calculated for Fiscal Year 2020 and approved by the Board via Resolution 2019-071 dated <br />September 19, 2019. Staff found the same type of rounding error had occurred in the Three <br />Bedroom and Four Bedroom categories resulting in changes from $1,258 to $1,259 for a Three <br />Bedroom and from $1,462 to $1,463 for a Four Bedroom. The Resolution attached amends <br />Resolution 2019-071 and will also be sent to HUD to correct their records. Staff enjoys a good <br />relationship with HUD and continues to be rated a "High Performer" by the Department. <br />Funding: There is no funding associated with this resolution. <br />Recommendation. Staff recommends the Board approve the resolutions amending the Fair <br />Market Rental Rates for Fiscal Years 2019 and 2020 and authorize the Chairman to execute the <br />resolutions on behalf of the Board. <br />Copies to: Phil Matson, Community Development Director <br />Robin Miller, Rental Housing Program Manager <br />76 <br />