Code of Maine Rules › 19 - DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT › 498 - OFFICE OF TOURISM AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT › Chapter 36 - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PROGRAM 2008 PROGRAM STATEMENT › Section 498-36-7 - AMENDMENTS TO THE PROGRAM STATEMENT

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
The State may amend the 2008 Program Statement from time to
				  time in accordance with the same procedures required for the preparation and
				  submission of the program statement. The State of Maine's Administrative
				  Procedures Act will guide the amendment process.
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TO:
Potential CDBG Applicants
FR:
Orman Whitcomb, Director, Office of
				  Community Development
DA:
September 10, 2007
RE:
Community Evaluation Factor
Background:
In recent years, for the Housing
				  Assistance, Public Facility and Public Infrastructure programs, a "Community
				  Evaluation Factor" has been used in the scoring process. The 7 factors used
				  totaled 20 points and were calculated for communities within set population
				  ranges. During the rule making process for the Program Statement, some
				  suggestions have been made to use more relevant information, but substantive
				  suggestions as to what might actually be more relevant were not received.
				  Therefore, this year the OCD contracted with Planning Decisions, Inc. to look
				  at this portion of the scoring process.
Planning Decisions identified two major problems with the
				  existing factors. First, the data is complicated to collect and analyze, the
				  process is time-consuming, and unhelpful to potential applicants in
				  predetermining a degree of competitiveness before applying. Second, the data on
				  substandard housing, rental affordability, low and moderate income population,
				  and poverty, are based on the 2000 Census. This is currently six years old, and
				  becomes increasingly out of date each year.
Therefore, Planning Decisions proceeded with their analysis
				  with the following basic assumptions:
1. Scoring factors should be closely related
				to the program function for which the scoring factors relate (i.e., housing and
				infrastructure);
2. Some balancing
				is needed so that there is not a bias towards small communities (with few in
				need, but a high percentage) and large communities (which may have many in need
				even with a very low percentage).
3. Data which is updated on an ongoing basis,
				even if less precise, is preferable to data from the 2000 Census.
4. In order for communities to know in
				advance where they stand, the points must be predetermined prior to
				applications, and not depend on application data.
Relevance and weighting of factors:
Under the
				  existing system, each of the 7 factors was given an equal weight, so the result
				  is that financial commitment and lower income households were given a "double"
				  weight and the issue becomes whether the factors address the right criteria for
				  the programs in question.
Logically, different criteria might be used to deal with
				  housing needs as opposed to an infrastructure needs. These differences are
				  already part of the scoring system, specifically, the narrative "impact"
				  section (30 points) of the application. The community evaluation factor is
				  meant to come into play when all other factors are basically equal - to
				  determine awards where two communities have similar needs and equally effective
				  solutions.
In this light, the most important factor would appear to be
				  tax burden. For infrastructure, all other things being equal, the State would
				  wish to fund activities in a town that is already making a significant tax
				  effort; while substandard housing is important for rehab programs, and
				  affordable housing is important for all programs and the presence of low-income
				  people is a relevant factor, they are already heavily considered in the
				  low-income benefit aspect of the program design. Financial commitment is
				  relevant, but it does not fit into the Community Evaluation factor, because it
				  is application-specific, and cannot be predetermined.
Given all of this, and putting aside the question of the
				  appropriateness of individual measurements, Planning Decisions recommends a
				  weighting that gives tax burden 50% of the points (10), housing 40% (8 points),
				  and low income population 10% (2 points). The recommended distribution is
				  below.
Type of factor
2006 Measurement
2006
points
Recommended
2007 points
Comment
Financial commitment
Budget Page review
2
0
Doesn't fit into this factor
leveraging
3
Substandard housing
without plumbing
3
4
relevant for rehabilitation
Affordability
Renters >25%
3
4
relevant for all housing programs
Tax burden
Tax rate
3
10
the single most important factor for infrastructure
Low income population
Community LMI
3
2
relevant to all programs
<150% of poverty
3
TOTAL
20
20
Best measures:
Given this general weighting of
				  factors, how do we best measure them"
The current
substandard housing
measure uses
				  data from the 2000 Census and is increasingly irrelevant today as hardly any
				  year-round units in Maine lack complete plumbing and overcrowding continues to
				  be a problem, more indicative of an affordability issue than of poor physical
				  housing conditions. Therefore, the best external indicator for rehabilitation
				  need is simply the age of its housing stock. While the age of housing is
				  measured in the 2000 Census, updating is not important in this case, since the
				  number of older units changes little from year-to-year.
Affordability
is
a
				  problem that changes year to year, as the housing cycle changes. Therefore, the
				  best current measure of affordability is the "affordability index" published
				  annually by Maine Housing which tracks changes in the housing market by
				  community, and matches it against annual changes in median income in that
				  community.
The best measure of
tax burden
was designed
				  by the Maine Municipal Association a few years ago. Unfortunately, MMA has not
				  continued with this. Therefore, OCD's current approach of calculating the
				  community's tax rate (state-equalized) relative to the state average is better
				  than any of the alternatives.
The best measure of
tax burden
was designed
				  by the Maine Municipal Association a few years ago. Unfortunately, MMA has not
				  continued with this. Therefore, OCD's current approach of calculating the
				  community's tax rate (state-equalized) relative to the state average is better
				  than any of the alternatives.
The HUD measures of
low and moderate income
				  people
and
poverty
are all based on 2000 Census data.
				  Therefore, the best current estimates on a town level for low and moderate
				  income people are from Maine Housing, with data from a private provider called
				  Claritas. For purposes of this factor, the proportion of households under 50%
				  of area median income would provide a good sense of how many really low-income
				  people are residing in an individual community. The measures that will be used
				  are in the table below:
Type of factor
Best measure
How to Score
Source
Timeliness
Substandard housing
housing built before 1939
> 35% = 4 30 to 35% = 3 20 to 30% = 2 10 to 20% = 1
							 <10% = 0
2000 Census
2000 Census (but doesn't change between Censuses)
Affordability
Affordability Index (state average 0.7)
under 0.7 = 4 0.7 to 0.8 = 3 0.8 to 0.9 = 2 0.9 to 1.0
							 = 1 1.1+ = 0
Maine Housing
Annual
Tax burden
Keep the same (state average 12.99)
>25 = 10 20 to 24 = 8 15 to 20 = 5 10 to 15 = 3
							 Under 10 = 0
Maine Revenue Services
Annual
Low income population
<50% of Area Median Income
20% + = 2 10 to 20% = 1 >10% = 0
Maine Housing (Claritas)
Annual
Finally, the question of adjustments for small and
				  large municipalities:
The discussion so far has not addressed whether
				  the scoring system should take special measures to account for communities of
				  different sizes - either by scaling all of the proposed measurements by sizes
				  of communities, as is done now, or by including a balance of absolute number
				  and percentage measures, in order to compensate for the effects of size on a
				  measurement.
Planning Decisions does not recommend any special measures
				  for the new method outlined above. There is no particular relationship between
				  old housing and small or large municipalities; or example, Lewiston has a lot
				  of old housing, and so does Osborne, and both would have a high score in this
				  measure. Likewise, tax burden and affordability are unaffected either way by
				  community size. The last measure, low income population, might favor rural
				  communities because it is a percentage measure; but some urban service centers
				  will get the maximum points on this, and therefore is recommended as a low
				  point item.
2008 Community Development Block
							 Grant Program
Community Evaluation Factor
Abbot
9
Belmont
6
Camden
13
Acton
7
Benton
7
Canaan
7
Addison
10
Berwick
10
Canton
10
Albion
8
Bethel
12
Caratunk
6
Alexander
9
Bingham
14
Caribou
13
Alfred
10
Blaine
10
Carmel
9
Allagash
6
Blue Hill
9
Carrabassett Valley
4
Alna
13
Boothbay
8
Carroll plantation
11
Alton
8
Boothbay Harbor
10
Carthage
11
Amherst
8
Bowdoin
9
Cary plantation
8
Amity
10
Bowdoinham
9
Casco
8
Andover
10
Bowerbank
4
Castine
10
Anson
16
Bradford
8
Castle Hill
9
Appleton
10
Bradley
11
Caswell
8
Arrowsic
10
Bremen
8
Chapman
7
Arundel
5
Brewer
13
Charleston
7
Ashland
12
Bridgewater
11
Charlotte
11
Athens
7
Brighton plantation
8
Chelsea
6
Atkinson
10
Bristol
8
Cherryfield
13
Augusta
13
Brooklin
10
Chester
7
Aurora
15
Brooks
9
Chesterville
8
Avon
11
Brooksville
10
China
9
Baileyville
12
Brownfield
8
Clifton
8
Baldwin
10
Brownville
14
Clinton
7
Bancroft
13
Brunswick
11
Columbia
9
Bar Harbor
9
Buckfield
8
Columbia Falls
13
Baring plantation
12
Bucksport
9
Cooper
10
Bath
12
Burlington
11
Coplin plantation
5
Beals
12
Burnham
9
Corinna
7
Beaver Cove
3
Buxton
6
Corinth
4
Beddington
5
Byron
9
Cornish
10
Belfast
15
Calais
17
Cornville
7
Belgrade
8
Cambridge
7
Cranberry Isles
10
Crawford
6
Etna
6
Harmony
7
Crystal
10
Eustis
11
Harrington
11
Cushing
7
Exeter
10
Hartford
8
Cutler
7
Fairfield
11
Hartland
7
Cyr plantation
9
Farmingdale
8
Haynesville
8
Dallas plantation
6
Farmington
12
Hebron
7
Damariscotta
11
Fayette
8
Hermon
7
Danforth
12
Fort Fairfield
14
Hersey
9
Dayton
8
Fort Kent
9
Highland plantation
5
Deblois
9
Frankfort
8
Hiram
11
Dedham
9
Franklin
5
Hodgdon
7
Deer Isle
9
Freedom
10
Holden
6
Denmark
6
Frenchboro
10
Hollis
9
Dennistown plantation
4
Frenchville
9
Hope
9
Dennysville
12
Friendship
9
Houlton
16
Detroit
7
Fryeburg
12
Howland
9
Dexter
11
Gardiner
12
Hudson
2
Dixfield
13
Garfield plantation
4
Industry
9
Dixmont
9
Garland
9
Island Falls
14
Dover-Foxcroft
13
Georgetown
7
Isle au Haut
8
Dresden
8
Gilead
11
Islesboro
8
Drew plantation
9
Glenburn
7
Jackman
11
Durham
8
Gouldsboro
7
Jackson
8
Dyer Brook
7
Grand Isle
11
Jay
9
Eagle Lake
9
Grand Lake Stream Plt
8
Jefferson
4
East Machias
15
Great Pond
6
Jonesboro
10
East Millinocket
12
Greenbush
9
Jonesport
9
Eastbrook
10
Greene
6
Kenduskeag
7
Easton
10
Greenville
11
Kennebunk
11
Eastport
14
Greenwood
9
Kennebunkport
8
Eddington
7
Guilford
10
Kingfield
13
Edgecomb
10
Hallowell
14
Kittery
11
Edinburg
8
Hamlin
8
Knox
8
Eliot
7
Hammond
12
Lagrange
9
Ellsworth
10
Hampden
9
Lake View plantation
4
Embden
3
Hancock
7
Lakeville
8
Enfield
6
Hanover
10
Lamoine
5
Lebanon
8
Maxfield
9
Orland
5
Lee
9
Mechanic Falls
13
Orono
13
Leeds
10
Meddybemps
9
Orrington
8
Levant
7
Medford
10
Osborn
13
Liberty
9
Medway
14
Otis
7
Limerick
10
Mercer
7
Otisfield
5
Limestone
10
Merrill
10
Owls Head
8
Limington
4
Mexico
16
Oxbow plantation
10
Lincoln
9
Milbridge
11
Oxford
7
Lincoln plantation
8
Milford
6
Palermo
8
Lincolnville
9
Millinocket
13
Palmyra
6
Linneus
7
Milo
15
Paris
9
Lisbon
12
Minot
7
Parkman
7
Litchfield
8
Monhegan plantation
10
Parsonsfield
12
Littleton
7
Monmouth
8
Passadumkeag
9
Livermore
8
Monroe
10
Patten
11
Livermore Falls
14
Monson
10
Pembroke
12
Lovell
10
Monticello
11
Penobscot
6
Lowell
9
Montville
12
Perham
11
Lubec
12
Moose River
9
Perry
10
Ludlow
8
Moro plantation
3
Peru
7
Lyman
5
Morrill
9
Phillips
15
Machias
14
Moscow
9
Phippsburg
7
Machiasport
8
Mount Chase
8
Pittsfield
12
Macwahoc plantation
10
Mount Desert
10
Pittston
8
Madawaska
11
Mount Vernon
9
Pleasant Ridge plantation
7
Madison
11
Nashville plantation
4
Plymouth
7
Madrid
5
New Canada
9
Poland
7
Magalloway plantation
4
Northfield
6
Portage Lake
7
Manchester
7
Northport
5
Porter
10
Mapleton
7
Norway
12
Oxbow plantation
10
Mariaville
4
Oakfield
8
Oxford
7
Mars Hill
18
Oakland
10
Palermo
8
Marshfield
9
Ogunquit
8
Palmyra
6
Masardis
11
Old Orchard Beach
10
Paris
9
Matinicus Isle plantation
9
Old Town
14
Parkman
7
Mattawamkeag
11
Orient
2
Parsonsfield
12
Passadumkeag
9
Saco
10
Stonington
10
Passamaquoddy Indianshp Res
5
Sandy River plantation
4
Stow
9
Passamaquoddy Pleasant Point
5
Sanford
11
Strong
10
Patten
11
Sangerville
10
Sullivan
10
Pembroke
12
Searsmont
8
Sumner
10
Penobscot
6
Searsport
12
Surry
8
Penobscot Indian Island Rsrvtion
6
Sebec
8
Swans Island
9
Perham
11
Seboeis plantation
8
Swanville
8
Perry
10
Sedgwick
10
Sweden
9
Peru
7
Shapleigh
6
Talmadge
14
Phillips
15
Sherman
7
Temple
9
Phippsburg
7
Shirley
8
The Forks plantation
6
Pittsfield
12
Sidney
4
Thomaston
15
Pittston
8
Skowhegan
11
Thorndike
9
Pleasant Ridge plantation
7
Smithfield
7
Topsfield
9
Plymouth
7
Smyrna
9
Topsham
8
Poland
7
Solon
8
Tremont
8
Portage Lake
7
Somerville
11
Trenton
7
Porter
10
Sorrento
8
Troy
9
Presque Isle
15
South Berwick
10
Turner
7
Princeton
12
South Bristol
10
Union
11
Prospect
10
South Thomaston
7
Unity
8
Randolph
10
Southport
10
Upton
5
Rangeley
10
Southwest Harbor
8
Van Buren
13
Rangeley plantation
5
Springfield
13
Vanceboro
14
Readfield
8
St. Agatha
10
Vassalboro
6
Reed plantation
11
St. Albans
4
Veazie
9
Richmond
13
St. Francis
8
Verona
8
Ripley
8
St. George
9
Vienna
9
Robbinston
8
St. John plantation
6
Vinalhaven
9
Rockland
15
Stacyville
10
Wade
10
Rockport
10
Starks
9
Waite
10
Rome
7
Stetson
7
Waldo
8
Roque Bluffs
7
Steuben
9
Waldoboro
10
Roxbury
10
Stockholm
11
Wales
9
Rumford
8
Stockton Springs
13
Wallagrass
7
Sabattus
10
Stoneham
7
Waltham
11
Warren
8
Woolwich
10
Washburn
13
York
7
Washington
7
Waterboro
8
Waterford
8
Waterville
18
Wayne
9
Webster plantation
10
Weld
9
Wellington
9
Wells
7
Wesley
10
West Bath
7
West Forks plantation
3
West Gardiner
4
West Paris
10
Westbrook
14
Westfield
9
Westmanland
7
Weston
6
Westport
7
Whitefield
4
Whiting
8
Whitneyville
13
Willimantic
5
Wilton
9
Windsor
8
Winn
13
Winslow
9
Winter Harbor
9
Winterport
8
Winterville plantation
3
Winthrop
9
Wiscasset
10
Woodland
7
Woodstock
6
Woodville
7