School Board Expands Affordable Housing Impact Fee Waiver Program
On December 4, 2018, the School Board of Broward County adopted School Board Growth Management
Policy 1161 which
- incorporates the District's new Level of Service Standard (LOS) for public school concurrency, in compliance with the Third Amended and Restated Interlocal Agreement for Public School Facility Planning (TRILA)
- modifies the parameters of the District's school impact fee waiver program, as enabled by Resolution No. 96-35
- updates the Policy with current department names and timeframes.
Based on this approval, the School District will immediately begin implementation of the new alternate level of service standard and new school impact fee waiver process for both low and very low income affordable housing units. Those dwelling units certified as very low and/or low income affordable housing are eligible for a full waiver of school impact fees, up to $50,000 per project. For additional information, contact Lisa Wight at 754-321-2172. County Commission Approves Support of Housing Trust Fund Legislation
During their regular meeting on December 4, 2018, the Broward County Board of County Commissioners unanimously adopted a Resolution in support of Senate Bill 70, State Funds, filed by Senator Kathleen Passidomo for the 2019 legislative session, which would prevent future legislative sweeps of the Florida’s designated housing trust funds for other purposes. Specifically, House Bill 70 amends Section 215.32, Florida Statutes, to exempt the State Housing Trust Fund and the Local Government Housing Trust Fund from a provision authorizing the Florida Legislature, in the General Appropriations Act, to transfer unappropriated cash balances from specified trust funds to the Budget Stabilization Fund and the General Revenue Fund.
Beginning in Fiscal Year 1995-1996, the William E. Sadowski Act created a dedicated source of funding for the State and Local Government Housing Trust Funds from documentary stamp tax revenues, for the purpose of producing and preserving affordable housing. Over the past several years, however, more than $1.3 billion has been diverted from the State and Local Government Housing Trust Funds.
Adoption of the Resolution also expresses the Board's support for any companion bills filed during the 2019 regular legislative session to prevent the diversion of monies that should properly remain in the State and Local Government Housing Trust Funds.
This item furthers County Commission Value G: Offering sustainable, compatible, innovative housing options for all income levels, including integrated, permanent supportive housing, Goal 2, by increasing the availability of affordable housing of all types, countywide, in every community using effective, uniform criteria, policies, and strategies.
Voters Approve Affordable Housing Trust Fund for Broward
Broward County voters overwhelming said “YES” to a local affordable housing trust fund on November 6, 2018. The issue was the third in a series of ballot questions put forward by the Broward County Charter Review Commission. Its passage by 72.8 percent demonstrates widespread community support for a local affordable housing trust fund that will be used to help alleviate the shortage of affordable housing in Broward County and address issues of homelessness. Any money that the County puts into this new fund can only be used for affordable housing, unlike funds placed in the state affordable housing trust fund, which have been historically been swept by the State Legislature to fund other initiatives. The Broward Housing Council’s 2018 work program called for an initiative to “Establish a dedicated source of funding (i.e. affordable housing trust fund) to support the creation and preservation of affordable housing.”
2016-2017 Annual Report Released
Source: Broward County Planning and Development Management Division
On August 14, the Board of County Commissioners accepted the Broward Housing Council’s 2016-17 Annual Report. The purpose of Annual Report is to provide a summary of the Broward Housing Council’s activities between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. It is not intended to, and does not, highlight individual municipalities, housing authorities or county agency funding sources. More…
Broward Housing Council Sponsored October Workshop
The Broward Housing Council sponsored an affordable housing workshop at Tree Tops Park on October 26, 2018.
“Stakeholders, Strategies and Innovative Solutions for Affordable Housing” was a free, half-day event focusing on unique financial strategies to support affordable housing initiatives. Attendees and panelists included bankers, for-profit developers, federal regulators and affordable housing providers and advocates.
Participants engaged in facilitated breakout sessions addressing the topics of financing, land availability and predevelopment obstacles. A summary report of these findings is now available and will be reviewed at the next Broward Housing Council meeting on December 14.
How Much Salary Do You Need to Afford a Median-Price Home in South Florida?
Source: Sun-Sentinel, August 20, 2018
Data issued by HSH.com®, a publisher of mortgage and consumer loan information, a potential home buyer in Broward County would need to earn about $78,337 a year to afford the median home sales price of $353,000. This represents a 31% increase over the past three years in both home sale prices and the purchaser’s earnings required to qualify for a mortgage. More…
New South Florida Apartments Surge Toward Completion: Could Rent Declines Be Far Behind?
Source: Sun-Sentinel, August 10, 2018
The results of a survey released by apartment search site, RENTCafe, project that that about 9,800 new apartment units will be opening in South Florida by the end of this year. However, the rent amounts in the Broward-Miami Dade-Palm Beach tri-county area are on the rise and these increases are expected to continue. More…
Broward Council Members