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Walkersville votes to join Frederick County—in HUD CDBG urban-county program
Summary
Walkersville commissioners voted Aug. 14 to join Frederick County—in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development—(HUD) Community Development Block Grant urban-county designation for a three-year commitment, a move estimated to yield roughly $35,000 annually to the town under current data and county redistribution plans.
Walkersville commissioners voted Aug. 14 to join Frederick County—in an urban-county designation under HUD——s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement program, beginning with federal fiscal year 2025.
County officials Devin Peart, Frederick County local government relations associate, and Vincent Rogers, the county—housing director, briefed the board on the program and recommended a three-year commitment for fiscal years 2025—through 2027. Peart said HUD—allocations are formula-driven and the county expects a base allocation of about $700,000 annually; Rogers said Frederick County plans to redistribute unincorporated-area funds among participating municipalities while retaining only an administrative fee and funding for one county-owned property.
"By joining our urban county, your municipality would receive an annual allocation directly from the county——entitlement without going through the competitive process at the state level," Peart said.
Rogers said eligible uses of CDBG funds include water and sewer lines, sidewalks, community and senior centers, public services for seniors or homeless households and housing-related projects, but that projects must be demonstrably benefitting low- to moderate-income (LMI) households. He explained HUD uses population, persons in poverty and overcrowded units to calculate allocations, and that area-benefit projects generally require 51% LMI residents (LMI defined by HUD as up to 80% of area median income).
Using current county data and HUD—formulas, Rogers estimated Walkersville—would receive about $35,000 a year under the proposed redistribution, while cautioning the figure is an estimate pending HUD——————final allocations after the federal budget process.
Commissioners pressed staff on how allocations and eligibility would be calculated (countywide vs. town-specific data), whether funds could pay for projects outside municipal boundaries if neighboring jurisdictions agreed, and on the timing of allocations. Rogers said funds can be carried from year to year and that a definitive allocation would be known after HUD publishes its apportionments in the spring following the federal budget.
After discussion about a three-year trial period and the administrative benefits of receiving a guaranteed annual allocation, the board approved a motion to join the county program by voice vote.
What—happens next: Walkersville will submit project summaries to county staff for compliance and reporting; HUD must approve the urban-county designation and the town will learn final dollar allocations after HUD issues its formula apportionments.
