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Board forms ad hoc committee to score 2025 housing millage applications; commissioners stress deeper affordability
Summary
Kalamazoo County will use an ad hoc commissioners committee to score applications for the 2025 housing millage round; commissioners urged prioritizing lower‑income units and clearer scoring rewards for deeper affordability.
County staff opened the funding portal for 2025 housing millage requests and the board on July 1 agreed to form an ad hoc committee of commissioners to score applications and recommend awards in August.
Director Mary Balkema briefed the Board of Commissioners on three funding categories for the 2025 cycle: multifamily development, creative (preservation/rehab) projects, and supportive services. The portal closes July 3 and staff asked the board whether the whole board should weigh in or an ad hoc scoring committee should score projects during July and present recommendations in August.
A group of commissioners volunteered for the ad hoc committee. Commissioners Ray, Wheeler, Morales and Hepler were among those named; Director Balkema said she will distribute applications and scoring sheets when the portal closes. She asked commissioners to forward any applicant questions to staff to maintain a fair process.
Why it matters: Commissioners emphasized the need to prioritize deeper affordability. Several said 60% area median income (AMI) units often fill quickly while households earning 30–40% AMI face the greatest need. Commissioner comments urged awarding more points to projects that deliver very low‑income units and to prioritize projects willing to accept housing vouchers.
Budget context and scoring: Director Balkema told the board roughly $2,000,000 remains available in this cycle; commissioners noted they have fewer funds than prior cycles and should therefore concentrate funding on projects with substantial low‑income unit counts. Chair Strebs and other commissioners said scoring matrices used previously will be provided to committee members and that staff will make the process transparent and provide scoring templates.
Next steps: Staff will distribute applications and scoring matrices once the portal closes July 3, the ad hoc committee will score in July, and the board expects to consider funding recommendations at its August meeting.
