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Staff proposes AHSP guideline changes to prioritize certain project types and align procurement thresholds
Summary
Buncombe County staff proposed two revisions to the Affordable Housing Service Program: clarify project priority preferences (including projects that bring outside funding, accept vouchers and include renewable energy) and remove an AHSP-specific expenditure threshold so countywide procurement rules govern approvals.
Unidentified Speaker 2 presented proposed edits to the Affordable Housing Service Program guidelines aimed at clarifying project priorities and removing a duplicative expenditure-approval threshold.
Staff said the updated preferences would emphasize projects that bring other funding sources, are 9% tax-credit-type developments when appropriate, accept rental vouchers, coordinate with the continuum of care, and include renewable energy components. The presentation also stated staff would prioritize affordable housing for households "permanently displaced" (phrase as transcribed) as part of an extension of the building recovery plan.
On procurement, Unidentified Speaker 2 said the policy currently contains an expenditure-approval threshold already reflected in county procurement rules. "Rather than have two policies that might be out of alignment," staff recommended removing the AHSP-specific threshold so the county's procurement policy is the single source of signature and approval rules.
Why it matters: The change aims to reduce duplicated policy language and potential conflicts between program policy and county procurement rules, and to signal priority for projects that leverage other funding or serve households displaced by disaster or other events.
Next steps: Staff included these edits in materials that will go to the full board. At this advisory meeting, board members described the changes as minor and did not register substantive objections; staff will incorporate any final feedback before formal consideration by the board.
