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Yearly Archives: 2022

By most accounts, the need for affordable housing across North Carolina is massive. According to 2019 census data, over a million North Carolina households are “cost burdened,” meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. Almost half of those are “severely cost burdened,” meaning they spend more than 50% of their income on housing. What can local governments do to address the need for more affordable housing?

By most accounts, the need for affordable housing across North Carolina is massive. According to 2019 census data, over a million North Carolina households are “cost burdened,” meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. Almost half of those are “severely cost burdened,” meaning they spend more than 50% of their income on housing. What can local governments do to address the need for more affordable housing?

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has stated in its Interim Final Rule and Final Rule applicable to Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (“Fiscal Recovery Funds”) that, with few exceptions, the procurement standards contained in the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 C.F.R. Part 200) (the “Uniform Guidance” or “UG”) apply when a recipient or subrecipient of Fiscal Recovery Funds uses these monies to purchase goods or services.  These procurement standards require a unit of local government receiving Fiscal Recovery Funds to abide by procurement procedures that are consistent with state law, locally adopted rules, and 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.317-200.327 in the Uniform Guidance.[1]

As the deadline approaches for NC local governments to decide whether to elect the Standard Allowance for the Revenue Replacement category of their American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery funds (ARP/CSLFRF) (that deadline is April 30, 2022), I’m getting many questions from local government officials about what the Standard Allowance is and what it means (or does not mean).