Laserfiche WebLink
3 <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch suggested having a 105% threshold, and deferring the excess. He said <br />the budget should be built around a 5% increase. He suggested an application deadline of <br />October 31 each year. He said the question is can we limit it to income. He said we <br />should charge interest equal to the borrowing cost. <br /> <br /> Ms. Brown said the problem with an October 31 deadline is that assessments are <br />not done until January or February. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris suggested that deadlines for the different housing programs be similar. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lee Richards, Commissioner of Revenue, noted that deadlines for various tax <br />relief programs vary, some are March 1, some May 1, and some September 1. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch suggested applying the tax deferral program to homeowners, and if we <br />can have an income level, he would suggest $75,000, but since there is a question about <br />this he would leave it open to everybody. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said he does not want the interest rate so low so people use the <br />program as an investment. <br /> <br /> Mr. Taliaferro said a tax deferral program gives people the option if they are in <br />dire straits. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said he thinks the program should be done simply, easy to administer <br />and easy for people who apply for it. He said he also does not want to expose the City to <br />a lot of risk. <br /> <br /> Ms. Brown asked if Council would like staff do more research and come back <br />with a draft ordinance. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he prefers a tax deferral to a tax abatement as he thinks it is more <br />fair to the public. <br /> <br /> Mr. O’Connell said staff will prepare a report and then see if Council wants to put <br />it on an agenda. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said we may want another work session just on a deferral program. <br /> <br />Housing Program Funding <br /> <br /> Mr. O’Connell suggested that Council focus on key policy issues and said the <br />specific dollar recommendations could be made by the Housing Task Force. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris said he would prefer to start with the proposal presented by the <br />Housing Task Force in the budget. He listed the strategic aims proposed as follows: 1) <br />promote moderate income workforce housing by creating stronger incentives for private <br />developers to contribute toward our regional workforce housing fund; promote <br />homeownership and home rehabilitation opportunities for working families and resident <br />son fixed incomes by dedicating one cent on the real estate property tax to a new <br />homeownership fund for families under 60% of Area Median Income; transform public <br />housing by dedicating all federal CDBG and HOME housing dollars to CHRA’s <br />neighborhood revitalization efforts; and help with the housing needs of some of very low- <br />income elderly and disabled residents by dedicating 25% of the transient room tax to a <br />new special needs housing funds for permanent, supportive rental housing. He said in <br />addition IMPACT’s proposal is to dedicate one cent on the property tax into a new <br />homeownership fund for families under 60% of AMI. He said we would still have <br />money left over to do staff’s recommendations. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton asked about ideas for incentives for developers, and Mr. Norris said <br />density bonuses could be given. <br /> <br /> <br />