The chairman of Lynchburg’s housing commissioners voted against accepting federal stimulus funds Wednesday, calling the program a misfire and a burden to future generations.
“I don’t want my grandchildren paying this debt,” said Joe Seiffert, a former city councilman and current chairman of the Lynchburg Redevelopment & Housing Authority. “… Somebody needs to say no.”
Seiffert, who described his opposition as a “protest vote,” was the lone dissenting voice among the board of housing commissioners.
The board voted 4-1 Wednesday to accept $813,403 in federal stimulus funds for capital improvements, specifically upgrades to the four low-income housing developments the authority owns.
The money will be used to accelerate projects originally planned for later years, such as replacing doors, purchasing new stoves and refrigerators, and repairing siding.
The housing commissioners approved the work plan recommended by staff without amendment. Each project was already part of their multi-year capital improvements plan. Under the terms of the stimulus bill, they have a year to appropriate their additional money and two to spend it.
The stimulus money will come on top of the housing authority’s regular federal aid for capital projects, which is expected to be between $500,000 and $600,000.
Seiffert, who retired from City Council last year following two terms in office, said the regular allocation was sufficient to keep the housing authority on track. The stimulus funding, meanwhile, is unnecessary, he said.
“We could carry on very well, in my opinion, with the normal capital appropriation,” he said during an interview, noting the normal allocation was enough to meet the authority’s original goals for the fiscal year.
“You don’t spend your way out of a recession,” he said. “That’s voodoo economics.”
The local housing authority manages four apartment complexes with a total of 328 units, each of which is rented to the low-income at reduced rates. The authority’s mission is to promote safe, decent, affordable housing.
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