Blue Earth County adopts 2026 utility allowance schedule for voucher and public housing programs

Nicole Cunningham, identified in the record as housing coordinator with Blue County EDA, asked the board to review and adopt the 2026 utility allowance schedule used to calculate rent subsidies for the county’s Housing Choice Voucher and public housing programs. She said the schedule is a HUD-required annual process and that the Nelrod Company collected local vendor cost data and compared it to previous schedules.

Cunningham told the board that costs exceeded a 10% threshold in some categories, which triggers a required schedule change. She described the allowance as providing average utility costs for participants who pay their own utilities and said the schedule is also used by multiple local agencies. After a motion to approve, the board adopted the 2026 utility allowance schedule by voice vote.

The action will update the rates used in subsidy calculations for voucher and public housing participants. Cunningham noted the update stems from local cost data and standard HUD thresholds rather than a policy change by the county.