Housing authority reports grant balances, HUD audit finding closed; commissioners review tenant policies

Gail's Housing Authority staff reported Wednesday that the agency finished the fiscal year with an available balance and outlined remaining grant obligations, while also telling commissioners the HUD field office closed a single audit finding after corrective action.

The executive director presented month‑to‑date budget figures: administrative expenses originally budgeted at $368,170 with $357,916.34 expended and a remaining balance reported at $10,253.66; tenant services budgeted $8,610 with $495.44 expended and $8,114.56 remaining; utility expenses budgeted $304,290 with $295,61.42 expended (balance $9,228.58); ordinary maintenance and operations budgeted $830,700 with $611,523.78 expended (balance $219,176.22). The director said total allocated funds as of March 31 were $1,655,670 with $1,347,926.73 expended and a balance of $307,743.27, noting closeout can continue through May 31 to account for accruals.

On grant timelines, the authority reported the 2022 grant allocation of $730,172 with $684,210 obligated and $683,403.77 expended, leaving $45,961.24 to spend by May 11, 2026. The 2023 grant allocation of $747,802 was 91% obligated with $410,329.98 expended and a remaining balance of $66,910.61 to be fully expended by Feb. 16, 2027. Staff said the 2024 drawdown is delayed pending clearance of an unresolved 2021 issue.

The executive director said the HUD field office issued an audit‑closing letter dated March 24 and that the corrective action submitted resolved one prior finding. "With the corrective action that we provided as evidence of our efforts to ensure compliance, the HUD field office has officially closed the 1 finding that we had for last year's audit," she said.

Commissioners discussed a tenant landscaping policy and other tenant‑facing policies such as parking, pets and housekeeping that staff has pulled from the authority's Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) for tenant signatures. The executive director said the policies must be approved by the board before submission to HUD and that tenants sign a copy which is kept in their file.

Commissioners also asked about enforcement for lease violations and whether the authority successfully collects charges when tenants are billed for repairs; staff said lease violations can result in termination and, where the policy allows, the authority will clean and charge tenants for the cost.

Ending: Staff said some HUD training for commissioners remains outstanding and that the board will have an opportunity to review the proposed landscaping policy before formal approval and submission to HUD.