I ne iNUfcKtNUtN I, March b, 2002
Page 13
More qualify for below-market rate, state Residential Loans
Oregon Housing and Com
munity Services (OHCS) has
increased the annual income
limits for its Residential Loan
Program, a below-market inter
est rate loan program serving
low and moderate income Ore
gonians and other applicable
multi-family programs adminis
tered by the department. “We
are excited about the increased
income limits because we now
have the opportunity to help
more Oregon families find af
fordable housing,” said Bob
Repine, OHCS Director.
This increase was made
possible by an annual income
adjustment recently announced
by the U. S. Department of
Housing and Urban Develop
ment (HUD). These figures
were released on January 31.
For more information about
these specific limits, visit HUD’s
website at www.huduser.org
“The new median income
limits will be applied by the de
partment on a program-by-pro
gram basis according to each
program’s unique underwriting
and monitoring guidelines,”
said Bob Gillespie, Housing Di
vision Administrator.
The new median family in
come limits were approved by
the State Housing Council at
their meeting on February 22.
There is a statewide household
income limit and also higher
limits for properties being pur
chased in the five-county Port
land area and Benton County.
The new annual household in-
come
limit Statewide
is
$48,900. The old limit was
$47,800. In Benton County, the
new limit is $57,400, up from
$55,700 and in Clackamas, Co
lumbia, Multnomah, Washing
ton and Yamhill Counties, the
new limit is $57,200, up from
$55,900.
These new limits apply to all
single-family loans and other
applicable multi-family loans re
served by OHCS on or after
February 22.
Oregon Housing and Com
munity Services is the state
housing finance agency, pro
viding financial and program
support to create and preserve
opportunities for quality, afford-
able housing for lower income
Oregonians. The Department
also administers federal and
state anti-poverty, homeless
and energy assistance commu
nity services programs.
For more information on the
programs and services offered
through
OHCS,
visit
www. hes.state.or. us
Board achieves consensus on setting some budget priorities
From page 1
district’s budget, directors have
found it difficult to establish
budget priorities.
This is particularly important
when engaged in the painful
process of cutting an already
meager budget. While most of
the directors appeared ready
for the discussion, Krahn said
he did not remember being
asked to prepare a list of budg
et priorities.
While the board was at
tempting to determine a
method of evaluating budget
items, Hansen noted that a top
priority would have to be fund
ing for programs mandated by
the state. Krahn disagreed,
saying “We’re throwing out the
law - if they don't send us a
check we’re not going to do
anything. We’re going to be
rebels.” He stated similar senti
ments several times during the
discussion.
Nevertheless, a majority of
the board agreed that the
budget process should make
every effort to maintain the stu-
dent/teacher ratio, counseling
services, education alterna
tives for at-risk students, devel
opment of instruction and cur
riculum, and building mainte
nance. Funding for extra-curric
ular activities and technology
received only slightly less prior
ity.
Maintenance
of school
grounds and funding for sup-
plies and equipment fared less
well, even though the board
agreed that supplies and equip
ment are necessary for instruc
tion. Additions to the capital re
serve fund, which can be used
only for future school buildings,
were briefly discussed but also
fared poorly.
Policy changes made
During the business meeting
the board amended district pol
icy on directory information, to
align it with federal require
ments, and passed a resolution
to approve the services provid
ed by the ESD.
Parent complaint
A parent began to present a
personnel complaint to the
board, but Chairman Strand
stopped the presentation be
cause the board has final re
view regarding complaints
against personnel, and district
procedure had not yet been fol
lowed.
McClellan explained that the
board must remain impartial
before any unresolved person
nel complaints are brought be
fore it. The parent needs to file
a complaint, in writing, with the
superintendent. If he is unable
to resolve the issue by working
with all of the parties involved,
it can then be brought before
the board of directors in an ex
ecutive session. State law pro
hibits the board from dis
cussing personnel matters in a
public session.