Community Development presents $5.16M FY2026 budget to sustain HUD entitlement programs and housing pipeline

The joint committees approved the Community Development recommended FY2026 budget totaling $5,161,405, which staff said will leverage more than $3.5 million in direct community support through housing, infrastructure and neighborhood investment projects.

Dominic Strezzo, community development administrator, told members that the budget largely represents HUD entitlement funds (Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships and Emergency Solutions Grant) and that staff use prior-year allocations for planning because the federal FY2026 HUD allocations were not yet available. "That is really what that $5,000,000 represents in our FY26 budget," he said, describing the entitlement programs as the core of the department's annual application round to pass dollars through to nonprofit partners.

Eric Wagner, Planning, Building and Development director, and Strezzo also discussed the county's housing pipeline supported by ARPA and other one-time funds, noting projects in leasing, construction and trailing due diligence for tax-credit awards. Members pressed on HUD funding stability; Strezzo said the primary current concerns are potential changes to program rules rather than immediate elimination of entitlement funding, and reminded members that final HUD dollar amounts for the prior program year were not received until March in a recent cycle.

Why it matters: Community Development administers federal housing and neighborhood grants that fund rental assistance, infrastructure and nonprofit awards. Any federal changes to HUD rules or timing can delay or alter local programs and partner awards.