Carver County CDA requests 6% levy hike to support new affordable-housing openings and trust funds
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Sign Up Free
Summary
The Carver County Community Development Agency requested and the county board approved a 6% preliminary levy increase for 2026 to fund administration of CDA programs, expand local housing trust funding and support the agency—s growing rental portfolio, including the opening of Carver Place and Carver Oaks.
The Carver County Community Development Agency (CDA) presented a proposed 2026 levy of $3,798,406 (6% increase) at the Sept. 2 county meeting; the county board approved the CDA—s request as part of the preliminary levy process.
Allison Strike, CDA executive director, told commissioners the agency manages scattered-site rental housing and runs multiple programs: a local housing trust, down-payment and closing-cost assistance, land trust homeownership, Minnesota Housing loan administration, and predevelopment grants to cities aimed at expanding tax base and improving livability. "The mission of the CDA is to provide affordable housing opportunities and foster community and economic development," Strike said.
Recent and planned projects: the CDA reported Carver Place opened Sept. 2 (60 units affordable at 60% area median income) and Carver Oaks is scheduled to open March 1 (43 senior units affordable at 50% area median income). The CDA said it manages 793 rental units countywide (rising to 836 after Carver Oaks) and is carrying short-term construction costs for several homes (including the Ernst House rehab) until they are sold and the CDA is reimbursed.
Fiscal context and federal uncertainty: Strike warned the CDA faces uncertainty from federal funding proposals; she said the current administration—s budget proposal would cut federal rental assistance by 43%, a change the CDA is monitoring and for which it is preparing contingency plans. The CDA plans to prioritize life-and-safety capital improvements and defer other work where feasible to preserve reserves.
Board action: the county board approved the CDA request (motion by Commissioner Fahey, second by Commissioner Uttermann). The request was for a levy the CDA calculated under state statute that yields roughly a $2.37 annual increase on a $494,700-valued home.
Ending: the CDA said levy funds will support administrative costs for its expanding portfolio and modest increases for the community-growth partnership and the local housing trust; the CDA will continue presenting financial updates to the county board and monitor federal funding developments.