County commissioners approve funding to help heat homes
County Commissioners approved a Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement trust fund grant Tuesday, funding the Centre County Fuel Bank administered by Interfaith Human Services.
The $15,000 grant, provided through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, will match a $35,000 amount approved by commissioners in August, senior planner Linda Marshall said, bringing the total amount of the funding to $50,000.
The funds, administered through the Home Heating Assistance and Support Program, allow for the continuation of heating assistance for needy families in the county, said IHS Board of Directors Chairwoman Sylvia Neely. The program was created to provide heating funds for those having difficulty getting Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program assistance.
“These funds give us the opportunity to help people,” she said, “especially in areas that need a great deal of help.”
People apply for LIHEAP funds in November, she said, and come to the fuel bank for emergency assistance when the LIHEAP funds are exhausted. However, with the recent warm weather, she said, it’s possible LIHEAP funds will last longer into the winter.
These funds give us the opportunity to help people, especially in areas that need a great deal of help.
IHS Board of Directors Chairwoman Sylvia Neely
Neely couldn’t say if there would be fewer applications for help from the fuel bank due to the warm weather, but said application numbers would likely be the same as those in need would want to be ready for when the cold weather comes.
In other business, commissioners approved a contract between the county and Evaluator Services and Technology Inc. to upgrade the county’s aging Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal System.
According to chief assessor Mark Kellerman, the current software was installed in 1994 during the last countywide assessment. The $222,243 contract will allow for the installation of new software and the accurate transfer of property price tables to maintain uniformity.
Kellerman assured there would be no changes to property values due to the transfer.
In a budget-related comment, Chairman Steve Dershem said county Treasurer Rich Fornicola has assembled a variety of proposals regarding a county loan/line of credit that is being evaluated by the finance department.
Action on one of the proposals is likely next week, he said. He gave no further detail on the matter.
Jeremy Hartley: 814-231-4616, @JJHartleyNews
This story was originally published December 15, 2015 at 7:44 PM with the headline "County commissioners approve funding to help heat homes."