Governor Perry switches agencies responsible for disaster recovery funds

Shakeups in the State’s troubled disaster recovery program continue.

In the wake of the virtual elimination of the Governor’s designated lead agency for disaster recovery, the Texas Department of Rural Affairs and a veto of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the Governor has informed HUD of his intention to change lead disaster recovery agencies two years into the program.

In a letter dated June 17 Texas Governor Rick Perry informs HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan that as of July 1 he is formally transferring designation of the state agency responsible for the administration of CDBG disaster recovery funds for Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike and Dolly to Texas General Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson.

The Governor states that the land office has committed to hiring disaster recovery staff from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the Texas Department of Rural Affairs, “so those familiar with the program operations will continue at GLO.”

Here is the text of the Governor’s letter to HUD Secretary Donovan…

 

As allowed under the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act (Public Law 110-329), the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-148), and Chapter 9 of Title II of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery, 2006 (Public Law 109-234), I am changing the designation of the state agency responsible for the administration of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) disaster recovery funding for Texas to the Texas General Land Office (GLO). This includes all CDBG disaster recovery funding associated with Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike and Dolly.

Changing the designation of the oversight agency will provide more accountability to the disaster recovery program. It will now be overseen by Commissioner Jerry Patterson, a statewide elected official who already is involved in hurricane disaster recovery through the coastal programs GLO operates. GLO has extensive background in the types of fast-paced and closely coordinated activities that the CDBG disaster recovery program demands.

The move also will save on administrative costs by eliminating duplicative tasks and expenditures, and will provide a single contact agency for local communities impacted by Hurricanes Ike and Dolly. The role of local partners, especially the critical leadership role of the councils of governments, will remain in place.

To ensure a smooth transition of the program, GLO has been participating in state disaster planning and decision making for the past several months. Key GLO staff members have familiarized themselves with the Conciliation Agreement and have received training on the duties to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing. To ensure that GLO has the institutional knowledge and subject matter expertise, it has committed to hiring disaster recovery staff from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) and the Texas Department of Rural Affairs (TDRA) so those familiar with the program operations will continue at GLO.

This transition of responsibility will take effect July 1, 2011.

 

Related articles

• HUD Approves Phase I of Texas Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing (texashousers.net)
• Analysis: Governor Perry’s veto of Texas Department of Housing (texashousers.net)