Pinal County approves HUD annual action plan process; staff warns allocations are pending federal decision

The Pinal County Board of Supervisors voted May 7 to approve the county's fiscal year 2025 annual action plan process for potential U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds, including CDBG, HOME and ESG programs, while county staff cautioned the board that actual dollar allocations have not yet been received from HUD.

Heather Patel of the Office of Budget and Finance told the board the county must submit an action plan by May 15 under HUD rules even though the county typically does not receive its official allocation until later. "We have not received that yet. So we do not know how much or if any funds will be passed down to the county," Patel said. She said the action plan is being prepared on the basis of last year's allocation and the county is continuing required citizen participation steps.

Patel described program uses and constraints: CDBG projects must meet a national objective (benefit low‑income persons, serve a limited clientele or support a redevelopment area); HOME funds are restricted to affordable housing activities and require a local match and a CHDO (community housing development organization) set‑aside; ESG funds pay for shelter, rapid rehousing and prevention services. She said estimated figures discussed in the presentation were "CDBG between 1.8 and 2" and "HOME between 4.3 and 6.5" as presented to the board; the units (for example, millions) were not specified in the staff presentation and will be confirmed once HUD issues the official allocation.

Patel said the county's timeline anticipates receiving agreements in the fall and starting projects in December or January, but the county will only obligate or expend funds if and when HUD confirms the allocation. She requested the board delegate authority for the chairman to sign grant documents after allocations are received so staff can complete federal paperwork without returning for another formal board action.

During public comment Roberto Revelis urged the board and county officials to press members of Congress to release funds he described as "illegally frozen." Patel replied she had "not received any assurances at this point" from congressional offices or HUD regarding the release of funds and that her office had asked local congressional staff but had received no definitive response.

The board approved the item as presented. Staff said technical assistance, a grievance policy, and a citizen participation plan are available on the county website and that the HOME program includes outreach to the county's nonprofit CHDO (a local Habitat for Humanity affiliate) that performs owner‑occupied rehabilitation and self‑help housing activities.

Clarifying details from the hearing: the county must submit the action plan by May 15 even though the actual HUD allocation for 2025 had not been received (Heather Patel); if HUD provides an allocation the board approved delegating signature authority to the chairman for grant agreements (Heather Patel); HOME funds require local match and a CHDO set‑aside; ESG match generally comes from nonprofit partners. The board's approval authorizes staff to proceed with the federal submission process but does not obligate the county to spend funds until HUD confirms the allocation.