How Yorba Linda uses federal funds

Yorba Lindans who identify themselves as political conservatives hold differing opinions regarding this city's use of the Community Development Block Grant Funding dispersed country-wide by the federal Housing and Urban Development Department.

Some say Yorba Linda's leaders should take a principled stand against wasteful and inefficient government spending that extracts an ever-increasing number of tax dollars from residents and not accept a formula-based allocation of $212,515 for the 2013-14 fiscal year.

But others maintain city officials should take back as much of the money the federals collect from city taxpayers as possible or risk seeing the tax-funded grants go to other communities.

Yorba Linda has amassed $1,218,184 in community block funds in the past five years, with this year's grant down nearly 28 percent from $294,551 collected in the 2010-11 fiscal year.

Overall, the Housing and Urban Development agency expects to sprinkle about $3 billion in grants to some 1,200 local governmental units. The community grant program is one of the agency's longest continuously run operations, with allocations beginning in 1974.

Generally, local governments are supposed to use the funds for affordable housing, anti-poverty and infrastructure development programs. Some local officials like the program's flexibility over categorical grants and because the cash doesn't flow through the states.

Yorba Linda's yearly allotments are used for projects outlined in an Annual Action Plan that follows priorities established in a City Council-adopted Consolidated Plan for 2012-14. The 2013-14 Action Plan won council approval on a 4-1 vote, with Craig Young dissenting.

The new Action Plan includes a summary of last year's performance levels, achieved with a $195,930 grant that focused on senior citizen nutrition and neighborhood improvements.

Specifically, 500 individuals used the Community Center's Senior Nutrition Program and nine low-income homeowners were helped in repairs by the Neighborhood Improvement Program.

Also, funding was allotted to upgrade park facilities to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and rehabilitate historically significant commercial properties in Town Center.

Last year, $22,000 was allocated for the park facility program, with $12,538 remaining to be used this year to complete four park upgrades by Dec. 31. A $60,000 allocation for housing repairs has $22,517 remaining to reach a goal of 12 total homes.

This year's plans include an additional $50,000 for housing rehabilitation for lower-income residents, dispersed in grants of up to $5,000, with exceptions for high-cost improvements such as roofing, for owner-occupied single-family residences and mobile homes.

The city expects to spend $88,135 assisting a minimum of four private owners of historically significant commercial buildings in Town Center in rehabilitation, code violations and facade improvements and $31,877 for senior citizen (age 62 and above) lunches on weekdays.

And 20 percent of the grant cash, $42,503, will pay for administration, such as preparing applications, budgets and certifications; coordinating activities; and monitoring programs.