Hubbard County commissioners passed on a new opportunity to create affordable housing for residents.
Despite the pleas and protestations of a coalition of nonprofit groups focused on economic development and housing, the board set a levy limit without permitting the separate property tax "levying ability" the state allows to county Housing and Redevelopment Authorities (HRA).
The proposed HRA levy would have received a guaranteed double on taxpayer's investment, and state housing experts estimated a ten-fold return for housing programs administered by the HRA.
The Hubbard County Housing Coalition, a recently formed group of area nonprofits, showed up to voice support for the measure. The coalition included groups sometimes at odds with each other over administration of programs in the county.
The groups presented a unified message: creating affordable housing for the working class is a vital aspect of developing healthy economic and social growth, and passing a levy would capitalize on a historic opportunity.
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Many of the larger employers in town do not pay a wage sufficient for home ownership. In order to keep the work force stable, workers must have access to affordable housing and the American dream of home ownership. Otherwise, these workers will travel elsewhere.
When low-end houses cost $130,000 to $150,000, workers who earn $8 an hour simply cannot afford their own home. Lack of affordable rental spaces also stunts the area's long-term economic growth.
At the July 5 board meeting, by board consensus, commissioners agreed to support the levy. Commissioners Greg Larson, Dick Devine and Don Carlson all spoke in favor of the measure, but when pressed on the issue, did not back up their assertions with real support.
To add insult to injury, commissioners granted the HRA "the ability to levy up to $200,000," but included it within the total county levy and did not provide for the HRA request when determining budgets.
Now, in order for the HRA to receive any money, additional funds would have to be cut from other county departments already facing reductions from proposed budgets. Commissioners already told other departments what funding levels to expect. They would have to reduce budgets yet again to allow the HRA to levy.
Regardless, the board's decision rendered the HRA ineligible to receive matching funds from the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund.
The commissioners could have done something historic to benefit the county. Instead, they chose to once again look backwards instead of forwards. Once again, they led a group of citizens to believe they supported something but failed to follow through.
