FY 07 Budget Increases Funding for Housing Accounts
Early this morning, the House and Senate conferees released their FY 07 budget report. The recommendation, expected to pass today, provides $113.8 million for DHCD programs, an increase of $22 million over FY 06.
Some of the CHAPA priorities that received increases include: The Soft Second Mortgage program which saw its funding double from $2.5 million to $5 million; public housing operating subsidies from $34 million to $45 million; the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program which was increased by $1.2 million; and the Alternative Housing Voucher Program for people with disabilities and the Department of Mental Health voucher program which both received $500,000 increases. In an outside section, the Affordable Housing Trust Fund received $2 million to help low-income households purchase homes and to preserve expiring use properties.
Unfortunately, the committee chose not to include funds that are already owed to local housing authorities for prior years. The committee also did not adopt proposals that were in the Senate's budget regarding data collection and employer assisted housing. We will continue to work on these issues.
CHAPA thanks the House and Senate leadership and members for their support and all of you, our members, who took the time to contact your elected officials. The job, however, is not over. Governor Romney now has ten days to review the bill before issuing his vetoes.
This is a list of DHCD accounts. To see the entire conference committee report and the line-item language, click here.
| Line Item | Program | FY 06 | FY 07 |
| 7004-0000 | Commonwealth Development | $246,720 | $246,720 |
| 7004-0001 | Indian Affairs | $198,449 | $201,520 |
| 7004-0099 | DHCD Administration | $8,559,992 | $11,325,833 |
| 7004-2475 | Soft Second | $2,500,000 | $5,000,000 |
| 7004-3036 | Housing Services | $1,221,925 | $1,821,925 |
| 7004-3045 | Tenancy Preservation | $0 | $500,000 |
| 7004-4314 | Service Coordinators | $490,401 | $490,401 |
| 7004-9003 | ISSI | $0 | $0 |
| 7004-9005 | PHA Operating Subsidies | $34,871,170 | $45,113,590 |
| 7004-9024 | MRVP | $26,283,345 | $27,483,345 |
| 7004-9030 | AHVP | $3,000,000 | $3,500,000 |
| 7004-9033 | Mental Health Rental Subsidies | $2,500,000 | $3,000,000 |
| 7004-9201 | Interest Subsidies | $5,500,000 | $5,500,000 |
| 7004-9315 | LIHTC | $1,500,000 | $2,200,000 |
| 7004-9316 | RAFT | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 |
| 7004-9317 | Individual Development Accounts | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Sec. 102 | Affordable Housing Trust Fund | $0 | $2,000,000 |
Governor Vetoes Priorities in Economic Stimulus Package (H.5057)
On June 24, Governor Romney vetoed and returned with amendments some of the priorities that CHAPA has supported. The text of the veto message is available on the governor's website.
Some of the unsigned items include:
1. $50 million in Historic Tax Credits. The House and Senate increased the annual allocation of Historic Tax Credits to $50 million. The governor vetoed the increase.
2. $15 million for the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund. The legislature approved $30 million for the fund; however, the governor recommended that the amount be reduced to $15 million.
3. In attachments "F" and "G" the governor recommended that various tax credits (including the state low income housing tax credit and the brownfields tax credit) be made non transferable and, instead, that tax credit recipients be given the opportunity to claim a refund of 80 cents for each dollar of tax credit.
CHAPA sent a letter to the House and the Senate urging them to override the governor's vetoes and to reject his recommendations. The branches have started the override process.
Administration Announces Funding Awards
The Romney Administration has announced the results of the February funding round. Information is available at www.mass.gov/dhcd/Temp/PressRel/06-21-06.doc.
Meetings Set for Transit Oriented Development Bond Program
Four public informational meetings regarding the FY 07 funding round of the TOD Bond Program will take place in July. Meetings will be held in Boston on July 13 at 2 p.m., in Worcester on July 18 at 10 a.m., and in Springfield on uly 18 at 2 p.m.. For additional information and to RSVP, contact Jane Healey at jane.healey@state.ma.us.
