Commissioners adopt annual plan and budget

SEATTLE—July 19, 2004—The Seattle Housing Board of Commissioners adopted the Moving To new Ways plan and SHA agency budget today. Several actions in the plan and budget will affect current and future SHA residents and community members. Some of these include:  

• Creating 219 new public housing and workforce units at NewHolly and 184 at Rainier Vista by the end of SHA’s fiscal year 2005.

• Creating 344 new public housing and workforce units at High Point by the end of SHA’s fiscal year 2006.

• With nonprofit partners, building new housing for seniors and people with disabilities at Rainier Vista and High Point.

• Selling 71 scattered-sites units and buying 71 units in more accessible locations to replace them.

• Evaluating ways to renovate Jefferson Terrace, helping to make it a better place to live.

• Designing and implementing changes in the Housing Choice Voucher rent policy to encourage people who are able to work to do so.

• Planning for likely continued reductions in federal funding for public housing and the Housing Choice Voucher program.

The plan and budget apply to the 2005 fiscal year, which begins on October 1, 2004. The budget projects a $119.8 operating budget and a $14.3 million budget for capital improvements, operating grants and non-routine equipment. The operating budget is supported by projected operating revenues of $123.8 million. 

The new budget recognizes probable cutbacks in subsidy at the federal level and takes a two-year approach to these budget challenges, identifying cuts of approximately 10 percent over the next two years. While not all budget cutbacks will be applied in FY2005, the agency is making allowances now for possible subsidy reductions next year. 

The plan and budget were presented at a public hearing on June 15. To view the meeting notes follow this link. To view the MTW plan follow this link.

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