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Council introduces off‑the‑floor budget amendments to fund Cardinal Cove veterans housing
Summary
Council members introduced two off‑the‑floor budget amendments to move HUD and federal funds into the Cardinal Cove renovations project, a plan to convert six buildings into veterans housing. Councilors said HUD’s final approval arrived late in the year, prompting the time‑sensitive request.
St. Tammany Parish officials introduced two off‑the‑floor budget amendments Jan. 9 to direct federal and HUD funds into Cardinal Cove Renovations, a project to convert six buildings into housing and services for veterans.
Council members said the parish had secured federal approvals in late November or December and needed to reassign existing grant monies from unobligated balances into the Cardinal Cove project to meet spending deadlines. The Council moved the measures from the floor so staff could align the grant budget and capital‑asset budgets with HUD’s authorization.
At the meeting, a parish staff member identified as Tonja Hill explained the timing: HUD approvals arrived in late November or December and the parish needed to finalize design work and move funds so the project could meet a September federal deadline. Council member Katrina Tanner expressed concern about recurring “off‑the‑floor” items and asked staff to share the HUD approval letter with the council; staff agreed to provide the documentation.
Council discussion focused on accounting and source details rather than project scope. A staff speaker and Council member David Bender walked through the budget movements: money previously listed as program income and unobligated coronavirus relief funds would be reassigned to the Cardinal Cove project. John (staff) confirmed the amendments reallocate funds the parish already has under grant agreements rather than creating new revenue.
Why it matters: The Cardinal Cove renovations would create five residential buildings (six clients per building) and a community building with shared services, repurposing parish‑held properties for veterans housing. Moving HUD and other federal grant funds into the project is time‑sensitive; failure to reassign funds before federal deadlines could jeopardize the funding.
What the council did: Councilman Patrick Burke moved to introduce the grants budget amendment and the related capital asset amendment; Councilman Arthur Laughlin seconded. Both off‑the‑floor measures were introduced for consideration; final adoption will follow standard procedures at a subsequent meeting.
Speakers quoted in this story appeared during the off‑the‑floor budget discussion on Jan. 9.
