Yolo County Housing Authority adopts FY 2025–26 budget, approves HUD forms

The Yolo County Housing Authority adopted its fiscal year 2025–26 budget and authorized required U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development budget forms at its May 21 meeting.

Executive Director Ian Evans told the board the budget reflects current federal award levels and noted it will be updated as new federal information arrives. The budget package approved by the board includes program-by-program reserve planning, staff cost increases for merit and potential cost-of-living adjustments, and one-time purchases such as two program vehicles for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program.

The budget matters because the authority’s programs are driven largely by federal funding and by local reserves that cover rent subsidy payments, capital needs and day-to-day operations. Evans outlined how different types of reserves are used: HCV administrative and HAP reserves; public-housing cash-on-hand that pays for uncollected tenant charges and infrastructure overruns; state Office of Migrant Services (OMS) operating, replacement and care reserves for the authority’s three migrant centers; and a COCC (central office cost center) admin reserve that functions like an operating fund for the agency.

Board discussion focused on the authority’s roughly 10% vacancy rate in public housing, which Evans attributed primarily to problems with the wait list. Staff sent hundreds of vacancy-notification letters to households that had reported preference points; during eligibility checks many could not verify those preferences, which delayed lease-ups. Evans said staff conducted a wait-list purge to confirm preferences and contact information and expects the vacancy rate to fall as that process completes in about three to four weeks. He said most vacant units are physically ready for re-occupancy and that occupancy should increase over the coming two to three months.

Evans also described operational changes and investments: adoption of RentCafe, an online portal for tenants to submit payments and documentation; continued emphasis on rent and solar-utility collection efforts; and a one-time HCV program vehicle purchase (about $100,000) driven by changes in leasing requirements. He told the board the HCV program holds significant reserves and staff will use a portion of those reserves for the vehicle purchase.

On the migrant-center portfolio, Evans said the Office of Migrant Services approved adding a previously omitted flood insurance line for Madison, restoring about $110,000 and improving that program’s outlook. He described the state’s replacement-reserve and USDA Rural Development approval processes for capital draws at two centers.

Evans summarized real-estate holdings managed by the authority: an intergovernmental-transfer (IGT) five-bedroom house owned on behalf of probation, two Helen Thompson homes owned for Health and Human Services, and seven Davis “Ag Homes” used for affordable farmworker housing. He said the authority will carry out infrastructure repairs at the Davis homes and will implement the first rent increase there since 2017 — from $774 a month to about $804 — effective around July 1, and that the budget reflects that change.

The board approved the budget and the related PHA resolution (HUD form series referenced in staff materials) by voice vote. Chair Vixie Sandy called for the vote; the motion carried.

Staff said they will continue to monitor federal funding and will bring midyear adjustments if needed. The authority also plans to keep commissioners updated on the wait-list purge results and occupancy improvements.

Ending: The adopted budget sets contingency reserves and program priorities for the coming year while staff continue implementing operational improvements intended to reduce vacancies and strengthen collection and maintenance practices.