Laserfiche WebLink
,t1 <br />Consent Agenda <br />Indian River County, Florida <br />Community Services Department <br />Board Memorandum <br />Date: June 27, 2024 <br />To: The Honorable Board of County Commissioners <br />Thru: John A. Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator <br />Michael C. Zito, Deputy County Administrator <br />William K. DeBraal, County Attorney <br />Cindy Emerson, Community Services Director <br />From: Stacey Bush, Housing Services Manager <br />Subject: Approval of Resolution Establishing Utility Rates for Housing Choice <br />Voucher Program for Fiscal Year 2025 <br />BACKGROUND <br />Indian River County Code provides for the Deputy County Attorney to be the Fair Housing <br />Coordinator for the County. Among the County's housing programs is the Housing Choice Voucher <br />Program (HCV), formerly known as Section 8 Housing. Federal regulations require the Board to <br />approve by resolution the utility rates on an annual basis. <br />The Housing Choice Voucher Program is a federally funded program administered by the County's <br />Housing Services Division (Housing Services). The HCV Program is designed to benefit all <br />participants. Private providers that own multi or single-family homes apply to Rental Assistance for <br />participation in the HCV program. The units are inspected and approved for the HCV Program. Upon <br />approval, private owners qualify for tax incentives that make participation in the Program profitable. <br />The County owns no HCV Program housing. <br />The County benefits from the Voucher Program by receiving an administrative fee from the <br />Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The County's Comprehensive Plan <br />objective of providing housing to low and very low-income citizens is met by participating in the <br />Voucher Program. <br />Each year, the Board must approve the rates for water, sewer, gas, electric, and propane in our area. <br />For this fiscal year, Housing Services retained The Nelrod Company to conduct a local rate study for <br />these utilities. Staff reviewed and approved the Nelrod rate study report and have included the results <br />on a spread sheet attached to the resolution. Those rates must be approved by the County as it is a <br />participant in the HCV Program. The resolution approving annual utility rates for Fiscal Year 2025, <br />effective October 1, 2024, is attached for the Board's consideration. <br />FUNDING <br />There is no funding associated with this resolution. <br />141 <br />