Sanford staff outline CDBG projects and LIHEAP cuts; one LIHEAP staffer to be laid off
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Summary
City staff presented the Community Development Block Grant allocation and neighborhood projects and said the city must cut one LIHEAP position due to reduced state funding. Officials said they're exploring county support and will monitor July funding.
City staff on Monday reviewed federal and local programs that target low- and moderate-income Sanford residents and told commissioners the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will lose a staff member because state funding has declined.
Tiara Hardaway (Speaker 15), the city's CDBG manager, said Sanford received a CDBG allocation of $437,000 in October 2025, which the city distributes across eight program activities with the largest share going to homeowner rehabilitation. Hardaway said roughly 430 residents were served during 2025 and highlighted neighborhood projects including the Goldsboro Trail revitalization and the Georgetown Community Garden.
Maria Garcia Rivas (Speaker 16), who manages LIHEAP for the city, explained program benefits and caseload numbers and said budget reductions have forced staff cuts. She described LIHEAP benefit limits (a maximum of $950 for regular bill assistance and $1,000 for crisis assistance) and said the program served about 2,100 households in 2024-25 and 1,175 households from October to March in the current cycle.
"I'm going to have to let go one staff," Maria Garcia Rivas said, adding the employee's last day will be March 31 and that she will run the program alone if necessary. City staff said grant administrative funds covered only part of staffing costs this year and that the city has supplemented the program from general funds in prior years.
Commissioners discussed the possibility of transferring administration back to Seminole County, since LIHEAP funds serve county residents and the county previously administered the program. City finance staff said the current grant allocation covers only the program manager's salary and basic office expenses and does not fund the additional outreach position.
City staff said they will continue to seek options to keep the program local, will follow up with the county on interest in taking it over, and will report back if additional funding becomes available.
The commission did not take any formal vote on program administration or additional city funding during the work session.