To: Gary L. Goetzinger, Finance Committee Chairperson
From: Samuel E. Muma, Treasurer
title
RE: Approval of a grant renewal from Rocket Community Fund, in the amount of $200,000.00, to fund a Tax Foreclosure Outreach Specialist position in the Genesee County Office of Treasurer with the grant commencing on October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027; this position will continue to promote the Homeowners Property Exemption (HOPE), also known as the poverty exemption, in Genesee County
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
The requested action of the Board of Commissioners is to accept the renewal grant in the amount of $200,000 from Rocket Community Fund to fund a position to promote the Homeowners Property Exemption (HOPE) program within Genesee County. The grant will cover the period of October 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027.
BACKGROUND:
In November 2025, the Treasurer’s office was awarded a grant for $100,000 from Rocket Community Fund to increase awareness of the poverty exemption, also known as Homeowners Property Exemption (HOPE) in Genesee County. A mission of Rocket Community Fund is to strengthen homeownership and in 2025 they extended their grants into communities outside the City of Detroit and Wayne County. The Treasurer’s office was able to partially fund a position with the $100,000 grant received last year with the remaining cost being funded through the DTRF.
DISCUSSION:
Over the last 12 months, the individual funded by the grant has been to several community events and visited every senior center in Genesee County in order to spread awareness of the HOPE program or poverty exemption. We have mailed out hundreds of applications and provided assistance in completing the exemption form to over a hundred taxpayers. Throughout Genesee County, we assisted in 77 taxpayers being granted the poverty exemption, with a majority of them within the City of Flint. We are asking the Board of Commissioners to accept this $200,000 grant from Rocket Community Fund to continue this important work within Genesee County.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
There is no impact on Human Resources as the current employee will remain in the position.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
There will be no impact on the General Fund budget. The anticipated cost for October 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027 is approximately $280,000. The additional $80,000 will be funded from the DTR fund.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
There is no impact on facilities. This position currently utilizes space within the office already.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
There is no impact on technology as this position is already within the Treasurer’s office.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
This grant will continue the important work being performed by the Treasurer’s office. By helping taxpayers receive a reduction in their taxes allows them to have additional money to spend within the community. It promotes healthy and livable communities by stabilizing areas by reducing foreclosures. By attending community events, we are promoting an inclusive and collaborative culture by working with other departments and organizations within Genesee County, like the City of Flint and Legal Services of Eastern Michigan, to identify potential homeowners who may qualify for the reduction in taxes.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the County Treasurer to authorize accepting a grant in the amount of $200,000, and entering into a support agreement with Rocket Community Fund, whereby the contractor will provide funding for a Tax Foreclosure Outreach Specialist position to promote the poverty exemption, also known as Homeowners Property Exemption (HOPE), within Genesee County, and any costs not covered by the grant will be paid from the Delinquent Tax Revolving Fund (DTRF) for the term commencing October 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documents being on file with the official records of the November 3, 2026 meeting of the Finance Committee of this Board), and the Chairperson of this Board is authorized to execute the agreement on behalf of Genesee County.