Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Homelessness topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Skagit County approves contract increase for short-term rental assistance, files CDBG application
Summary
The Skagit County Board of Commissioners approved submitting a 2024 closeout and 2025 application for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) public services and authorized a contract amendment increasing Community Action of Skagit County’s short-term rental-assistance funding from $878,200 to $902,366; both actions passed 2-0.
Skagit County commissioners on June 30 approved submitting the county's 2024 closeout report and a 2025 application for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for public services, and authorized an amendment to a personal services agreement with Community Action of Skagit County that increases compensation for short-term rental assistance from $878,200 to $902,366 while leaving the contract's June 30, 2025 expiration date unchanged.
The measures were approved together as miscellaneous agenda items 2 and 3 and passed on a 2-0 vote; Commissioner Wiesen was absent and had previously indicated he would normally recuse from these items because of the funding involved. Commissioner Browning moved to approve the items and the presiding commissioner seconded the motion.
The CDBG action authorizes submittal of the 2024 closeout and a 2025 public-services application and the accompanying certifications of compliance required by the program. The contract amendment affects personal services agreement no. 2024458 with Community Action of Skagit County, increasing the contract amount from $878,200 to $902,366; the agreement's termination date remains 06/30/2025.
"Number 3 is important, just because we have to emphasize over and over again'it's less expensive to us as a society to keep people in their homes than and try to rehouse them," Commissioner Browning said during the discussion. The presiding commissioner added, "Community Action does a great job. They're so connected in, in Skagit," endorsing the agency's ability to deploy assistance quickly.
County staff noted the increase must be spent during the existing contract period, and commissioners indicated Community Action will need to deploy the funds rapidly. No additional funding sources or a breakdown of eligible activities were specified in the motion or the recorded discussion.
Both items were recorded as passed 2-0. The board adjourned to sign documents and planned an executive session at 2:30 p.m.
Votes at a glance - Motion to approve miscellaneous agenda items 2 (CDBG closeout and 2025 application for public services and certifications) and 3 (amendment to personal services agreement no. 2024458 with Community Action of Skagit County increasing compensation to $902,366): mover Commissioner Browning; second Commissioner (presiding); vote 2 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved.
What happens next Community Action of Skagit County must deploy the amended contract funds before the contract's June 30, 2025 expiration. The CDBG application and closeout will proceed as authorized; any external approvals required for CDBG funds (state or federal) were not described in the meeting record.
