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Library and Human Services outlines HUD‑funded housing programs, eviction‑prevention assistance and library metrics
Summary
The department presented its proposed FY2025–26 operating budget and detailed federally funded housing programs including the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, HOME and CDBG activities, tenant‑based rental assistance for seniors, and community service metrics for libraries and senior centers.
The Budget Review Commission received the Library and Human Services department’s proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and a detailed briefing on federally funded housing programs administered by the city.
Senior Director Kira Peters presented an overview of the department’s programs, which include four public library branches, two senior centers, a neighborhood center and the Housing and Community Assistance Office (HCAO). Peters said the department’s operating budget is approximately $33.7 million and highlighted that roughly $15.3 million of that is personnel services. She explained the department carries both city general‑funded services and multiple grant‑funded programs.
Peters and HCAO manager Mary Witkowski described federal programs administered by the city: the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program (formerly Section 8), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) activities, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) rehabilitation projects, and other grant‑funded tenant assistance. Peters said the HCV program provides rental subsidies paid directly to landlords and that Scottsdale administers HCV payments for about 531 participant households reported in the presentation.
Peters listed rehabilitation and emergency repair programs funded by CDBG and HOME, cited the Operation Fix It program and noted the department’s role distributing opioid settlement funds in accordance with restrictions on eligible uses. She also requested one reclassification (a vacant administrative aid to a grant accountant) to strengthen federal grant compliance and asked for $10,000 to expand programming at Vista Del Camino.
Library metrics presented included more than 1 million physical circulations, robust e‑resource usage, about 1,500 library programs in FY2023–24 and roughly 36,000 senior‑center visits annually. Peters said HCAO administered rent/utility assistance to 583 households in a recent fiscal year.
Commissioners asked about dependence on federal funds and contingency planning; Peters said the city is monitoring federal appropriations and operating under a continuing resolution and that staff are actively considering options if funding were to be reduced.
Ending: Commissioners took no formal action at the meeting; Peters said the department will continue to work on data collection and reporting and to pursue the grant‑accounting reclassification to support federally funded programs.
