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Covina adopts FY2026'27 CDBG budget, allocates limited funds to senior services amid outreach complaints
Summary
The Covina City Council adopted its FY2026'27 Community Development Block Grant budget, approving allocations that include repayment of a Section 108 loan and limited remaining funds for public-service programs; the city treasurer urged a pause, saying the application process was not sufficiently publicized.
The Covina City Council unanimously adopted a resolution to approve the city's FY2026'27 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program budget on Tuesday, voting to repay a Section 108 loan and to fund several senior and rehabilitation programs with the limited entitlement allocation.
Management Analyst Alice Lang told the council the estimated CDBG allocation for the coming fiscal year is $266,966. Under federal rules, public-service spending is capped at 15% of the grant, or about $40,045. The city must also make a Section 108 loan repayment for the Covina Senior and Community Center of $172,188 for FY2026'27, leaving roughly $54,733 available for other CDBG-eligible programs.
Lang said the city posts applications on its website and in local press as required and that the finance advisory commission recommended the staff funding allocations. Several council members and staff noted that, because Covina's most recent census count may place the city over 50,000 residents in future years, there could be an opportunity to work directly with HUD in later rounds; staff cautioned that direct entitlement status shifts more administrative work to the city.
City Treasurer Neil Polzin urged the council to pause adoption and reopen outreach, saying the online application was difficult to locate and that the public had effectively received no ability to apply. "The public was never given that opportunity," Polzin said, and he asked that the city give residents more time to submit proposals.
Councilmembers said they valued the treasurer's point about outreach and that staff had acknowledged website navigation issues, but several members also expressed support for funding senior services, which council and staff said provide important meals and referrals for older residents. Mayor Pro Tem Delgado moved to adopt resolution CC 2026-07; Councilmember Allen seconded and the roll call vote was unanimous.
The approved allocations and the Section 108 repayment will take effect July 1, 2026, when the fiscal year begins. Staff said they will work to improve public notice and the web posting process for future application cycles.
