Scott County staff detail housing gains, 80 new 'Bring It Home' vouchers and ask for 6.2% levy increase

Scott County staff presented a package of housing updates and a request for levy support for 2027, highlighting new vouchers, preservation work and development commitments.

County staff said the county now has about 781 units across its portfolio, highlighted that Legacy Central opened last September and was full by May, and described 22 community land trust homes established since 2021. On rental assistance, staff stated there are now 532 vouchers across federal and state programs and that the 'Bring It Home' voucher program will add 80 rental assistance units to the county; "13 of them have been placed in Prairie Points and are fully utilized," staff said, adding that the remaining 67 are being issued through the year. Staff explained that the voucher program is modeled on the HCV/Section 8 system with monitoring and unit inspections.

On financing, county staff said they received just over $4,000,000 from the county last year, have committed $3,300,000 to two developments (226 units), and are requesting support for a CDA levy set at the statutory maximum for 2027, which staff said is a 6.2% increase in the levy. Staff outlined eligibility targets for projects (rental projects at 80% AMI; homeownership projects up to 115% AMI). Commissioners asked about landlord protections and fraud prevention; staff described an existing statewide 'beyond backgrounds' landlord program and ongoing monitoring procedures to reduce fraud risk. The county plans follow‑up on specific development timelines and bond awards in early 2027.