Commissioners table vote on North Central Texas Housing Finance bond authorization pending more details

Hunt County Commissioners Court on Tuesday declined to approve a general certificate requested by the North Central Texas Housing Finance Corporation and instead tabled the item for discussion at a special session next week after asking staff for more information.

The corporation asked each participating county to approve a certificate to allow it to issue bonds for its Single-Family Mortgage Revenue Bond Series 2025. County staff and commissioners said the packet that arrived a few days before the meeting lacked key details, including an exact bond amount and a clear description of the program’s scope.

A county staff member summarized the Housing Finance Corporation’s recent history: after years of inactivity and controversial multifamily projects in the past, the corporation is now moving back to a focus on single-family mortgage assistance targeted at specific groups, including first responders, teachers and law enforcement. The staff member said recent state law changes narrowed some of the corporation’s prior authorities.

Several commissioners said they wanted additional detail and time to consult with the county’s appointed representative, Ken Leonard, and to discuss the item in executive session before any vote. "I'd like to have more information before we vote on this. I don't really feel comfortable voting," one commissioner said during the meeting.

The court agreed to defer formal action and to consider the item at a special session next week; the court also indicated it would discuss the request in executive session under Texas Government Code provisions before returning to open session. No vote occurred on the substance of the bond approval at Tuesday’s meeting.

Commissioners did not set a dollar amount while tabling the certificate and repeatedly asked staff to obtain the corporation’s requested amounts and any binding terms before the special session.