Bluffton committee recommends keeping $450,000 for Neighborhood Assistance Program in FY2027

The Town of Bluffton Affordable Housing Committee on April 2 reviewed spending from the Neighborhood Assistance Program and recommended that Town Council fund the program at $450,000 for fiscal year 2027. A town staff member told the committee that Town Council had approved $450,000 for FY2026 and that 40 homes have received repairs totaling $334,985, with encumbrances still outstanding.

The staff member said available funds as of the prior day totaled about $163,420 and outlined the types of repairs funded: roofing, flooring, stairs, plumbing, tree service and property cleanup. The staff member explained that work on individual homes can be broken into multiple invoices and that projects are capped at $20,000 per home in total payments where needed.

A committee member asked about recent housing trust grant awards; staff said the prior year’s award had been $144,000 and that the current award to the program was $50,000 because there was less money remaining in the granting pool. One member noted they had requested $100,000 during the application.

Committee members asked clarifying questions and discussed whether to change the program’s allocation; staff asked the committee to recommend approval of the $450,000 allocation for FY2027 or to recommend the budget with modifications. A motion to accept the proposed FY2027 Neighborhood Assistance Program budget as shown on screen was moved and seconded; the audio records the motion and second but does not provide a full vote tally in the transcript record.

The committee also reviewed the town’s annual Fair Housing Month proclamation; staff said the mayor will sign the proclamation at the next Town Council meeting.