Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The Warsaw Housing Authority Board of Commissioners preliminary voted in support of increasing fair-market rent rates by 5 percent at its meeting Monday night.
The vote was for raising the fair-market rent rates from Housing of Urban Development's proposed 100 percent to 105 percent.
The board will need to vote again in favor of the rate at its September meeting. If approved a second time, the rates will be implemented Oct. 1 and continue through November 2007.
WHA has the choice of setting the fair-market rates for Warsaw at 90 to 110 percent.
"This increased rate will allow families to find housing more easily," said HOW Executive Director Pam Kennedy.
HUD's proposed fair-market rent rates for 2006 at 100 percent included $460 for a one-bedroom, $605 for a two-bedroom, $770 for a three-bedroom and $896 for a four-bedroom.
The 105-percent fair-market rate voted on by the commissioners would be a 5 percent increase from these figures.
Kennedy said HUD has separated rent and utility money from administration funding.
Rents for July included $44,201 and $6,000 of that money went towards paying for administrative fees.
"We were $6,000 down when we could have used that money to pay for rents this month," Kennedy said.
Kennedy said the housing authority is requesting $47,356 from Warsaw for its 2007 budget.
She said if the funds are not received, the housing authority will have to cut staff.
Kennedy also gave a WHA program report on vouchers for July.
She informed the commissioners that there are 24 families searching for housing currently, 14 contracts were completed, six contracts were terminated, nine recertifications took place, 26 residents' income levels changed, and 170 families are enrolled in the housing program.
WHA also:
• Approved a treasurer's report for the WHA statement of revenue and expenses program. Kennedy reported a $70,815.83 net income loss of rent money that has not been used. The money can only be used for rent expenses and what money is not used must be returned.
• Received historical budget data for total revenue for operating receipts and expenses for Warsaw Housing Authority for 2001 through 2006. Kennedy reported operating receipts for 2001 were $638,861.79 and $695,561.35 for 2006. Expenses included $639,559.74 for 2001 and $637,321.39 for 2006.
Board members include Robert Kline, Joel Curry, Melissa Francis, Page Himes, Patricia Ellis, Stephen Austin, Tammy Keirn and council representative Bill Rhoades.
