Travis County Commissioners Court
November 2, 2004
Item 28
On number 28, consider and take appropriate action on request to appointed
additional board members to the strategic housing finance corporation in Travis
County, we talked about doing this for a long time. Then we were on the verge
of doing it at one point and realized that that would throw off the closing
on the pwopbgd on -- bond issue so we were asked to delay the appointments.
Mr. Davis generated two names that in my view would be appropriate at some
point we would need to chat with them because what we're looking for is I
think somebody who would work on the corporation and on this lease to own
project. And other projects sponsored by this new corporation keep the court
basically apprised of what's happening, maybe come to us a bit earlier. And
what I’m thinking is that the other board members who also serve as the board
of the housing authority for Travis County really have just numerous other
things to do and so, you know, this is one of those projects that could make
heroes of everybody or goats of all of us. And the other thing is that it
could do a whole lot of good for numerous Travis County residents if done
correctly. So a little more expertise and opportunity for us to remain a bit
more up to speed than we do typically on matters that other corporations do.
So that's really the --
>> judge, I had one name of a person who was interested as
well and when we first talked about it, I asked him and he's still waiting
just to hear from us. Do we need a resume from him so that can be considered?
>> it would help to have that. Yesterday we kind of dug around
and didn't get a name.
>> okay. I've had it for a while. I just haven't had any
direction back as to what I needed to do. But he's been waiting since i.b.f.
First came out.
>> not only that, whoever serves on the board I think is
very critical. However, I’m having some reservations and to ensure that I
think maybe we have to come up with a strong policy from the Travis County
housing finance corporation to maybe also be in vogue with whoever board member
being selected and policy meaning that anything I think that this particular
new corporation does I think to inadvertently -- not inadvertent, but end
up taking property off the Travis County tax roll I think is something I know
I’m not going to support. And I know there may be some future projects coming
up that may not only take the property off the tax roll for Travis County,
but also it will have opportunity to alleviate a lot of situations I think
that were built on as far as help funding the Travis County housing finance
corporation through the application fees, that means that we use that money
from the corporation to do certain things. We've had several groups to come
here from that particular money and the money that we generate as long as
those bonds are set and fees of being paid off. So if we're going to do this,
I think we also need to look at a policy so we will -- with this new corporation
that we've created, which we've authorized and help create, I don't think
they need to be the competition for the Travis County housing corporation.
And when I envisioned looking at this thing, I envisioned this as being a
situation whereby we could look at this as far as a lease-purchase type operation,
but now a project coming before the Commissioners court that will compete
directly for the same dollars that Travis County is getting right now and
to the Travis County housing finance corporation. And also properties that
may be taken off the property tax rolls. So that -- I’m having some real difficulty
with this one. And of course whoever is on the board, I think they need to
help us develop the kind of policy that will protect Travis County housing
finance corporation so we'll be able to put money to projects that have come
up here before the court this past -- past few months. Some of those, we all
remember who we fund certainly these activities. So again, I just want to
keep that in mind. Willing to work on strong poll teu to protect the integrity
-- policy to protect the integrity of the Travis County housing finance corporation.
>> let's take another week and get that name. I don't know
that it makes sense to have eight. Which three would bring the total to. Seven
is on odd number. I think what we ought to do is look at what the different
backgrounds are, maybe get a summary of qualifications, then figure out what
it is that we think will be of most assistance to the board and what is most
assistance to us and choose two. The other thing is that I can review what
the term is, see what the commitment is and maybe the third one we don't appoint
this time we can appoint at the expiration of one of the two. And maybe mr.
Davis and I could put together kind of a summary of qualifications between
now and next week. But I do think it's important to move on that. They are
working and they do have another project. And that project is moving. And
they are left with the impression that no one member of the court has any
specific objections. That is posted for public hearings I know on the court's
agenda next Tuesday, November 11th. And they are arranging everything.
>> yeah, because that's the way that system works and if
Travis County doesn't get it, somebody else gets it.
>> well, even so, I still think -- I know I won't be here
the morning of next week --
>> but I was going to delay action until you got -- until
the afternoon.
>> because it is something that's happening in precinct 1
and, of course, I just can't agree to taking property off the tax rolls. I
did not envision anything that we did here would actually end up taking property
off the tax rolls. And I think by doing something like that we would have
created something that's not only taken money off the tax roll but also it
would also compete with us for the money that we would ordinarily be getting
and we won't be getting that money anymore. So those are possibilities that
can happen. And it's going to be hard for me to support them like that.
>> competing against each other. Trying to meet the affordable
housing needs out there.
>> we have our opinions. Those are affordable housing complexes.
It's almost like a chdo in a sense.
>> we need to find out the information.
>> that is the information. And I don't think we should go
and that is a project that is in precinct 1. And of course I want to respect
that -- [multiple voices]
>> those people are my constituents as well.
>> I want to respect the taxpayers of all of Travis County.
And by taking things off the tax roll I think is not doing the proper thing
I think for the interest in part of Travis County. This is just some of the
region. We have to come up with a policy, I think, to protect the integrity
of the Travis County housing finance corporation. But everybody has their
opinion. Thank you.
>> that's right.
>> the good news is that it will be back on next week.
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Last Modified:
Wednesday, October 26, 2005 3:21 PM