Action 18.
Regular Board of Supervisors Meeting
Housing Authority
- Meeting Date:
- 10/11/2016
- Title:
- Approval of Resolution Dissolving the Quasi-Independent Housing Authority and Reintegrating It As a Department Into the County Body
- Submitted By:
- Lauri Owen, County Attorney
- Department:
- County Attorney
Presentation:
No A/V Presentation
Recommendation:
Approve
Document Signatures:
BOS Signature Required
# of ORIGINALS
Submitted for Signature:
Submitted for Signature:
1
NAME
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
Anita Baca
TITLE
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
Director, Housing Authority
Docket Number (If applicable):
Mandated Function?:
Not Mandated
Source of Mandate
or Basis for Support?:
or Basis for Support?:
Information
Agenda Item Text:
Adopt Resolution 16-44 dissolving the Quasi-Independent Housing Authority and reintegrating it as a department into the Cochise County government.
Background:
In 2002, and via three Cochise County Resolutions, including 02-41, 02-42, and 02-43, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors created a separate, quasi-independent public housing agency known as the Housing Authority of Cochise County, including its own governing board of commissioners, to which the Cochise County Board of Supervisors delegated certain powers.The Cochise County Housing Authority is the only quasi-independent housing authority in Arizona.
The Auditor General recently raised difficult issues as to whether, given the quasi-independent status of the Housing Authority, its employees were employees of the Housing Authority or the County since these employees are on the County payroll. In discussions about this issue among Finance, the Housing Authority, and the County Attorney, no one could discover any benefit to having a quasi-independent Housing Authority. In addition, in the current set-up, for any proposed action the Director of the Housing Authority has to obtain approval of both the Housing Authority Board and the Board of Supervisors.
Accordingly, we are proposing that the housing programs be administered directly under the Board of Supervisors as a department, but which would remain under the Public Support Services Administrative functions. HUD has expressed no objection to doing so. On September 19, 2016, the Board of Commissioners for the Housing Authority of Cochise County passed a resolution dissolving its board and relinquished its powers back to the Cochise County Board of Commissioners. Now, with this resolution, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors would dissolve that quasi-independent housing agency, and its board, and reintegrates it as the Housing Department into the Cochise County governmental body.
The Auditor General recently raised difficult issues as to whether, given the quasi-independent status of the Housing Authority, its employees were employees of the Housing Authority or the County since these employees are on the County payroll. In discussions about this issue among Finance, the Housing Authority, and the County Attorney, no one could discover any benefit to having a quasi-independent Housing Authority. In addition, in the current set-up, for any proposed action the Director of the Housing Authority has to obtain approval of both the Housing Authority Board and the Board of Supervisors.
Accordingly, we are proposing that the housing programs be administered directly under the Board of Supervisors as a department, but which would remain under the Public Support Services Administrative functions. HUD has expressed no objection to doing so. On September 19, 2016, the Board of Commissioners for the Housing Authority of Cochise County passed a resolution dissolving its board and relinquished its powers back to the Cochise County Board of Commissioners. Now, with this resolution, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors would dissolve that quasi-independent housing agency, and its board, and reintegrates it as the Housing Department into the Cochise County governmental body.
Department's Next Steps (if approved):
Effective November 1, 2016, the Housing Authority of Cochise County will be reabsorbed into the Cochise County governmental body as a department.
Impact of NOT Approving/Alternatives:
The Housing Authority of Cochise County would continue as a quasi-independent agency, with a hybrid status that would continue to raise issues with the Auditor General with no corresponding benefit to the County.
To BOS Staff: Document Disposition/Follow-Up:
Please retain the original copy and provide one, signed copy to the Housing Authority for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.