Aiken discusses potential state tax credit, federal funding changes to housing authority

BLUE RIDGE, Ga. – Traver Aiken, executive director of the Blue Ridge Housing Authority (BRHA), expressed his concern over Georgia HR 798 to authority members Thursday, Feb. 15, at the authority’s monthly meeting.

The resolution adopted by the Georgia General Assembly March 30, 2017, created a House Study Committee on the effectiveness of a low-income housing tax credit, which benefits the BRHA and other housing authorities across the state by giving a tax credit to contracted companies developing new units for housing authorities. Aiken stated he feared the study could result in the tax credit being eliminated at some point in the future.

Aiken explained he had attended a legislative day for housing authorities in Atlanta Thursday, Feb. 8, and had the chance to speak with Governor Nathan Deal, Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp and Georgia House Speaker David Ralston. Aiken also told authority board members he had been informed at the Atlanta conference that legislation had already been introduced to eliminate the 9 percent tax credit by 2020.

“If they get rid of that, then there is no possible way we could ever build (new) units,” Aiken explained.

“I specifically went on the floor to talk to (Speaker) David Ralston about this, and I said, ‘I need you to look at this bill please. I’m from Blue Ridge, and this is going to kill us up there if we cannot provide any more housing units for our low-income individuals,'” Aiken continued.

Mentioning another area of concern for housing authorities, Aiken also cited the proposed 2019 federal budget, which proposes an elimination of Capital Fund through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“Reading into (the proposed 2019 federal budget), we’re going to have some problems if they pass that,” Aiken said. “The language in there completely does away with the Capital Fund program, which would completely do away with our ability to (renovate) and update anything in these units. Ever.”

He also explained the proposed budget would negatively affect the housing authority’s operating and day-to-day maintenance abilities as housing authorities rely on Capital Fund money to maintain and modernize existing housing units.

“So, it could be scary here in the next couple of months just to see how all of this plays out,” Aiken stated.

 

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