PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2011 BUDGET PROPOSED
Created: 2010-02-02 13:38:16
Dear NYSPHADA Members:
PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2011 BUDGET PROPOSED:
The Administration unveiled its proposed Fiscal Year 2011 Federal budget this Monday. The major purposes of the $3.8 trillion spending plan are: Rescuing the Economy, Reviving Job Creation, and Laying a New Foundation for Economic Growth. The budget includes $282 billion in temporary recovery measures (or stimulus monies), while freezing the budgets of Federal departments that provide programs unrelated to the military, veterans, homeland security and international affairs (approximately 17% of the Federal budget.) This does not mean that every non-defense discretionary program's funds are frozen. It does mean that, overall, non-defense discretionary funding levels will remain constant. Given the edict, the budget for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) fared fairly well.
Here is the link to President Obama's budget message, if you wish to learn more about his national priorities: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/assets/budget/03_Presidents_Message.pdf
The proposed Fiscal Year 2011 budget would provide $48.5 billion in funding for HUD. After premium collections are offset, the actual funding request is $41.6 billion ($2 billion lower that the Fiscal Year 2010 enacted level.) The budget would increase public housing operating funds from the 2010 estimated level of $4.77 billion to $4.83 billion, providing full funding according to the HUD formula. Unfortunately, it would decrease the public housing capital fund from the 2010 estimated level of $2.5 billion to $2.04 billion. The Housing Choice Voucher program would be increased from the 2010 estimated level of $18.1 billion to $19.5 billion; this includes an increase of voucher funding of $971 million and an increase of administrative fees of $216 million. It also requests $250 million for the Choice Neighborhoods program and again recommends zeroing out the HOPE VI program.
The Department is also proposing an initiative called "Rental Assistance for Preservation and Transformation (RAPT)." It is a voluntary program that supports conversion of public housing to project based rental assistance and would encourage regionalization.
Here is the link to the Office of Management and Budget's fact sheet for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which describes all HUD initiatives:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/factsheet_department_housing/
It is important to remember that the Administration's budget is a blueprint, or a guideline, for Congress. Congress will propose its own budget this year, and Congressional Appropriations Committees will ultimately determine Federal funding levels. The legislative branch, not the executive branch, has the "power of the purse".
Your legislative team will be analyzing HUD's proposed initiatives and will be back in contact with you in the near future with questions and comments.
NAHRO 2010 LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE:
NAHRO will hold its annual Legislative Conference from March 28-31 in Washington, DC. Due to the conflict with religious holidays, NYSPHADA will not be holding any meetings in conjunction with the NAHRO meeting. However, any NYSPHADA members planning on attending NAHRO's conference should feel free to contact me and allow me to assist with meetings while they are in town. I look forward to seeing anyone who comes to town, anytime!
Thank you,
Melody Fennel
Legislative Consultant
Melody H. Fennel
Fennel Consulting, LLC
101 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Suite 900 East
Washington, D.C. 20001
phone: 202.742-4557
fax: 202.315-3045