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Harrisonburg Housing Authority approves 2026 budget with conservative assumptions
Summary
The Harrisonburg Housing Authority approved its proposed 2026 budget after a public hearing with no attendees. Staff built the plan with conservative revenue assumptions and modest salary increases while preserving at least $500,000 in unrestricted reserves for cash flow.
The Harrisonburg Housing Authority voted Aug. 20 to approve its proposed 2026 budget after opening and promptly closing a public hearing with no attendees.
Michael (S3), who presented the budget, said the plan includes a 4% salary increase for positions with pay above $90,000 and 4.5% for staff below that threshold, and that non-salary lines are set using a three-year average. "The salaries are very consistent with what we proposed last year," S3 said while walking board members through assumptions.
The budget also reflects caution about federal appropriations. S3 noted the House and Senate versions of HUD-related funding differ and that the authority is budgeting conservatively as a result. He told commissioners the authority currently holds roughly $1.6 million to $1.7 million in reserves and that, as a practice, staff prefers to keep at least $500,000 of unrestricted funds available for cash flow.
Commissioners asked about unbudgeted or emergent costs, pointing to recent IT and infrastructure repair needs. S3 said the agency will use reserves for some one-time expenses and return with a formal budget revision if a major new expense arises.
The motion to approve passed by voice vote after a motion from S1 and a second from S4. The board will publish the budget and continue required reporting tied to grants and HUD filings.
