Palm Beach County commissioners voted to set aside a minimum of $40 million of remaining housing bond funds for for‑sale housing and asked staff to return after the new year with a modified request for proposals (RFP) and recommendations to attract developers.

The decision followed staff presentations and commissioner questions about program performance. Commissioner Weiss reported that of the housing bond units funded to date, 70 percent (1,487 units) are designated affordable rental and 30 percent (646 units) are workforce rental, with only eight for‑sale units included among the approved affordable units; the total approved units now exceed 2,100 and the board has allocated roughly $117,837,499 in bond awards so far.

Commissioners expressed concern that the existing program has yielded few for‑sale units because gap financing and land costs make ownership projects mathematically difficult. Commissioner Flores and Vice Mayor Woodward urged creative solutions, including partnering with nonprofits to secure donated land or bundling bond dollars with other funding sources. Staff said the county has flexibility to cover more construction subsidy than fixed percent caps used in some deals and recommended outreach to community partners and developers.

The board gave staff direction to allow one more competitive RFP round for rental projects but to structure future solicitations so that remaining funds move toward for‑sale product; several commissioners suggested protecting between 40 percent and 50 percent of remaining dollars, and the board agreed on the $40 million minimum figure. Staff also was asked to meet with industry partners and community groups, including local economic councils and housing advocates, and to present options at a workshop early next year.

The board emphasized the difference between rental bond constraints — where some federal tax credits and vouchers can make projects feasible — and for‑sale financing, where subsidy or donated land often is required to make ownership attainable. Commissioners asked staff to propose bundling bond dollars with other county programs and to present a NOFO that would focus solely on for‑sale units if feasible.

Next steps: staff will return with a modified RFP and program design proposals after the first of the year and will report back on options to make for‑sale applications more attractive to developers.