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Public hearing held on 2025 CDBG action plan; staff outlines draft budget and allocation limits
Summary
At a second public hearing the city’s CDBG program administrator presented the draft 2025 action plan, citing an anticipated HUD allocation and recommended funding breakdowns; residents and commissioners raised concerns about administrative overhead versus direct rental assistance
The Sandusky City Commission held the second public hearing on the 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) action plan on April 28. Nicole Groy, the city’s CDBG program administrator, presented the draft budget, timelines and program rules and answered questions from commissioners and members of the public.
Why it matters: CDBG funds are federal entitlement dollars intended to benefit low- and moderate‑income residents, address slums and blight, or respond to urgent community needs. How the city budgets those funds affects local service delivery for housing, public facilities and public services.
Key points from the presentation
• Allocation estimate and program year: Staff said the 2025 CDBG program year runs July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, and the city anticipates an allocation of approximately $700,008.
• Program caps and recommended budgets: Groy reviewed statutory limits and the recommended draft allocations in the packet: roughly $95,000 for program administration, $9,500 for a fair‑housing consultant, $265,000 for public works/street resurfacing, $65,000 for public open spaces, $60,000 for code enforcement, and a combined public services allotment of about $105,000 (city youth program $50,000; subrecipient funding $55,000). Rehabilitation activities listed included a lead‑paint program ($84,000) and a Healthy Homes program ($25,000) in partnership with the Erie County Health Department.
• Subrecipient applications: Staff said the city received applications from United Way, Father’s Heart Church, Erie County Senior Center, OGO and New Jerusalem Church; staff will complete awards once HUD confirms final allocations.
Public comment and commissioner questions
Resident Tim Schwanger urged the commission to limit administrative spending and to prioritize rental-assistance uses; he said he has repeatedly heard concerns that administrative overhead crowds out direct assistance. Commissioners asked whether CHIP (CDBG-eligible HOME/CHIP references in local usage) funds could be reallocated for rental help once CHIP funding is configured. Staff said the proposed $95,000 administrative figure is lower than the HUD maximum and pays for multiple support staff functions and reporting requirements. One commissioner confirmed that subrecipient awards larger than $10,000 are brought to the commission for approval.
Ending
Staff said no public comments were received during the 30‑day comment period and that final adoption of the action plan is scheduled for the May 12 commission meeting. Commissioners asked staff to continue sharing subrecipient award details and confirmed that staff will publish additional materials as HUD finalizes the award.
