“Block Grant” Funds Moved in a Split Commission Vote

originally published April 9, 2008

Saying that housing counseling programs offered by Athens-Clarke County-funded agencies are duplicated by other similar programs, ACC Commissioners voted last week to shift $285,000 in federal “community development block grant” money to build a playground for Dudley Park and to help ACTION, Incorporated make emergency repairs for elderly homeowners instead. “I feel very strongly we need to do something different with this portion of the grant,” Commissioner Alice Kinman said at the commission’s Apr. 1 meeting. But Kinman’s proposal didn’t sit well with Commissioner George Maxwell, whose district is served by the counseling programs, and who said he was blindsided by the proposal. “If something happens in my district, at least you ought to let me know,” he complained.

But Kinman’s motion passed on a 6-4 vote, with Maxwell and Commissioners Elton Dodson, Kelly Girtz and Harry Sims dissenting. “Every penny that we use to help low-income citizens in our community must be used wisely and to the maximum,” said Commissioner Kathy Hoard, citing the work of the local anti-poverty initiative OneAthens. But a $111,000 proposal for housing counseling from Hancock Community Development Corporation (HCDC) would serve only 74 people, she said. “I see no outcome measures… if we are going to continue funding these types of programs at this level, I need to know who bought a home as a result of this, who got a job.” But Keith McNeely, director of the ACC Human and Economic Development Department, which administers the grants, told commissioners that dozens of people who attended the counseling programs provided by HCDC and the East Athens Development Corporation had purchased homes.

Commissioner Carl Jordan said he’d rather fund park improvements than contribute to “these amorphous programs that deal with human capital,” run by non-government “partners.” And while not disagreeing with those priorities, Commissioner Dodson didn’t like doing it without advance notice. “This is an entirely inappropriate way to conduct business as a government,” he said.

John Huie

jphuie@athens.net