The Fulton County Housing and Community Development Department has let $6 million to be misspent or allowed to languish unused since 2000 — federal grant money the county may have to repay, records show.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is withholding $1.5 million Fulton County was supposed to get in 2008 until the county fixes its management problems. And 2009 funding may be delayed as well, said HUD spokeswoman Jerrie Magruder.
Of $10.5 million in program money given to Fulton County since 2000, auditors questioned the use of more than $6.4 million. The audit came after HUD reviews over several years expressed concerns about the county’s ability to manage the program.
Under the HOME Program, HUD provides local governments with grant money to create affordable housing, giving them the flexibility to use the money to build, buy or rehabilitate housing for rent or purchase, or provide rental assistance. The program encourages local officials to collaborate with nonprofits. But it is the responsibility of local officials to choose development partners, monitor their progress and ensure they comply with the program’s rules — including creating housing in a timely manner.
While Fulton County violated many program rules, auditors were especially critical of the housing department’s oversight of contract developers. The county failed to follow federal requirements for approving projects, ensure they were eligible for funding, monitor progress and make sure housing was created in a reasonable time, the audit said.
And people whine that North Fulton wants to form their own county?
{ 4 comments }
I bet you money; Obama still makes Mayor Franklin head of Nation HUD
Kind of like the legislature passing up on $22 million in federal transportation grant money because it doesn’t want to offend rednecks by amending the seat belt law to include pickup trucks….oh well….
To be honest, I didn’t even know the Tom Murphy pickup truck, seatbelt exception was still in existence.
FYI: A lifelong Maconite, Burt Wilkerson, was recently (6/30/08)appointed to head the HUD, Region IV, Southeastern Region, which includes: Atlanta Regional Office, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Tennessee field offices. He will monitor HUD programs throughout the southeastern region.
http://www.hud.gov/news/release.cfm?content=pr08-097.cfm
Comments on this entry are closed.