LMR-October_PROOF6

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Louisiana Housing Corporation L. GORDON KING GOVERNMENT CONSULTANTS, INC. FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LMA (1993 – 2000) The LHC has been around since the late-1970’s providing loans for homes and assistance for affordable multi-family housing for our citizens. Recently, the LHC has been through a series of changes, and you should contact them to see how to assist your constituents. Last year, an almost entirely new board was named by the Governor and other appointing authorities. Now, Buddy Spillers - who created in the ‘90’s and ran the Macon Ridge Economic Development Corporation in northeast Louisiana for years - is the Chairman of LHC. I had the privilege of working with Buddy in my years with the LMA, and he knows virtually every mayor and elected official in that portion of the state!! Buddy is from Ferriday, and understands the importance of networking with local governments. In addition, Mayor Jennifer Vidrine is the LHC Vice-Chairwoman. No stranger to LMA functions, this Ville Platte Mayor never stops trying to help her constituents (and now the citizens of this state). You know when the Mayor walks into the room - she’s a great spokeswoman for our state!! Buddy and the Mayor are working with the other LHC Board members to get the word out. In addition, the LHC has a new Executive Director,Keith Cunningham (who previously served as General Counsel to the LHC), and a new Chief Operating Officer, Brad Sweazy (who worked for the Kentucky Housing Corporation at one point in his extensive housing career). All of whom have SEE HOUSING, PAGE 17 GOVERNMENT CONSULTANTS, INC. Specializing in Bond Issues and Financing OVERVIEW L. Gordon King Nnamdi I. Thompson Shaun B. Toups David M. Medlin James R. Ryan Stephen Holley Dede Riggins (SEC Registered Municipal Advisors) Modern day government has become a large financial enterprise, handling millions of dollars and facing service and revenue pressures. The governing authority and Administrator(s) face complex financial decisions ranging from the impact of property and sales taxes to the financing of capital improvements. As government finance has become more complex, the need for financial advice to base decisions upon has grown. The services of an expert Municipal Advisor are being used by more and more governmental units. A Municipal Advisor (or “MA”) serves as a consultant advising the governing authority on matters relating to the following: Financial feasibility of projects; Total cost analysis of financing alternatives; Review of capital improvement financing programs; Advice on the structuring and marketing of debt securities. The MA is an integral member of the governing authority’s management team, providing advice and analysis to assist in financial decision‐making. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCE ANALYSIS • Analyzing available alternatives in relation to cost to the governing authority and providing financial guidance and recommendations; • Analyzing from a cost/benefit standpoint the use of incentives (free land, subsidy of bond issues, utility improvements) to attract industry; • Providing a detailed upfront and long‐term financial analysis of costs to the governing authority versus benefits of the specific project; and • Serving as an economic development finance resource for the Governing Authority. 700 North 10 th Street Annex Bldg. Baton Rouge, LA 70802 (225) 344‐2098 (Phone) (225) 344‐5952 (Fax) gcla@gc‐la.net (email) We Have The Experience! Page 16 LMR | October 2017
Municipalities City of Zachary Continues to Recover BY DAVID AMRHEIN, MAYOR, CITY OF ZACHARY January 10th, 2017 was the sixth anniversary of the City’s current administration. It also served to remind us that one hundred fifty-two days prior, August rains triggered a series of weather events that would forever change the lives of many Zachary families, friends, neighbors and fellow citizens. The resultant “1000” year rain and flood event, better known in government as FEMA – DR 4277 would have far ranging effects, without regard for its victims or the debilitating socio-economic impacts that it would generate during its short life. The long term effects are still painfully obvious and all one needs to do is to drive through the parts of Zachary most heavily impacted by the storms passage in order to bear witness to the loss and devastation suffered by so many. There are those who would say that Zachary fared better than many other communities; a statement arguably challenged by the 450 Zachary homeowners and 50 businesses severely impacted by this singular event. “Resilience”, a now favored recovery buzz word and one given new life following the flooding is seemingly in use everywhere. By definition, its current relevance pertains to the local rebuilding effort, one intent on lessening the impact of some like or future occurrence. Personally for me, “resilience” best describes the Zachary residents most impacted by the event, as well as those spared from it. All have been touched by the knowing of someone directly impacted by the disaster, with all readily conceding that much still remains to be done. Unfortunately, patience with the pace of recovery (or the lack thereof) has long since been replaced by the same nagging frustration shared by so many. Thankfully, salvation and its sense of comfort can still be found in Zachary’s very giving and ever present community spirit, one which remains as an abiding reminder that a better and more peaceful time will return. Daily challenges however do remain, and others may likely evolve as recovery efforts continue. Zachary’s landscape, now dotted with temporary manufactured housing units and the occasional lingering debris pile, serve as constant reminders of how far we still need to go until once again made whole. Together we will get there, and in the process become a stronger and better community for having done so. The Mayor’s Annual Message while often viewed as the opportunity to tout the City’s year of accomplishments, simply pales in comparison to the many individual and personal losses experienced locally. I would however, use this opportunity to thank Zachary’s very dedicated and committed City Council members who spent countless hours of their own in support of their constituents impacted by the flooding event. I would be extremely remiss if I did not acknowledge too, the collective efforts of Zachary’s City workers who aided in the local government’s recovery effort. Several of them continued the long hours and days of work in spite of having been victims of flooding themselves, and to them I remain especially grateful. If there is a valuable lesson to be learned from the experiences of the past year, it is that we’ve proven we are stronger together and should continue building on that base going forward. As a community we should remain mindful and clearly focused when “reflecting on our present blessings of which we all have many, and not on past misfortunes of which we all have some.” Our community’s commitment to progress through recovery will surely guide us, and may God continue to bless our Zachary community and its entire people. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17: HOUSING breathed a breath of fresh air into the Corporation, and they are open for business!! In terms of single family homes, the LHC offers several loan programs that provide down payment grant assistance (3 or 4%) to potential homebuyers. Rates are published daily on their website. The provision of DPA to borrowers is often the lift that gets them into a home, and this is a niche product that LHC offers. In terms of multi-family rental units, the LHC provides Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) to developers to assist in their construction of affordable housing units. The recently concluded 2017 allocation plan cycle has been one of the most competitive in LHC’s history, and points out the fact that developers understand that LHC is open for business. In some areas of the state, there is an acute shortage of affordable units for our state’s workforce -and, the LHC MF LIHTC programs are vital to helping fix this problem. In addition, the LHC is THE state entity dealing with housing, and oversees a number of other state programs including weatherization assistance for citizens. So, you should contact the LHC if you have any questions or want to learn more about how they can help your constituents. Check out their website at www.lhc.la.gov OR call them at 225/763-8700. You, too, will be impressed!! LMR | October 2017 Page 17
Page 1 and 2: Louisiana Municipal Review PUBLISHE
Page 3 and 4: Director’s Viewpoint Inside the L
Page 5 and 6: Inside the LMA Governor’s Column
Page 7 and 8: Inside the LMA Attorney General’s
Page 9 and 10: Inside the LMA Employee Spotlight W
Page 11 and 12: You Are Under Arrest! BY JERRY CRON
Page 13 and 14: Partner Insight New Opioid Fighting
Page 15: Partner Insight Treasury Notes ESTA
Page 19 and 20: Municipalities LFCA President Takes
Page 21 and 22: Cover Story Operation Give Back BY
Page 23 and 24: LMR | September 2017 Page 23

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