Send Your EIV Suggestions to HUD -- HUD's Office of Multifamily Housing leadership wants to hear from you about your experiences, both positive and negative, in gaining access to the EIV system and in using the various Multifamily applications and reports contained in the EIV system.  Please take the time to submit your comments, concerns and recommendations to the following e-mail address: MF_EIV_Comments@hud.gov .  HUD would like to make the EIV system a more useful tool that is responsive to your needs: 

Owners/management agents who have not signed up for access to the EIV system are encouraged to do so.  Instructions for getting access to the system are posted on the Multifamily EIV Web site.

Other Housing Alert Issues:

·         Good News:  More Information Released from HUD on Subsidy Payment Issues

·         New Available Research on Housing and Services Conducted by Dr. Stephen Golant

·         A Good Idea:  FAHSA Member Community PSA Mentioned in St. Petersburg Times Article

·         REAC Fact Sheet Posted

·         Watch-out:  Bedbugs Making a Comeback in Florida

·         LTC Ombudsman Program Looking for Volunteers

·         TRACS Update / RealPage

·         IRS Warns of New E-mail and Telephone Scams

·         Question of the Week:  Comments from FAHSA Members about Unruly Resident Councils

FAHSA Housing Alert Page

An Update on the Tax and Budget Reform Commission Meetings -

This week we are reporting on two Tax and Budget Reform Commission meetings as follows:

On January 25, the Finance and Tax Committee of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission (TBRC) met to continue deliberations on sales tax reform proposals. Committee members were given a list of 246 sales tax exemptions that included the dollar value of each. The total value is $12.3 billion.  Staff also provided the committee with a history of past efforts to pass and implement a service tax. (Nearly 20 years ago, the legislature passed a sales tax on services but, after a public backlash, quickly repealed it.) After the staff presentations, a number of business representatives spoke in opposition to an automatic repeal of all sales tax exemptions and exclusions. They talked about the adverse effect that a tax on services would have on attracting industry and businesses to the state. Dominic Calabro, the Executive Director of Florida TaxWatch (a nonprofit citizen watchdog), was the most compelling speaker. TaxWatch is in the process of preparing a report on sales tax reform that will include proposed criteria for the Legislature to use when systematically evaluating individual exemptions. When asked about his position on a constitutional amendment, Mr. Calabro responded that TaxWatch would not oppose a general constitutional amendment calling for a review of all exemptions every 20 years.

A proposed constitutional amendment by Commissioner John McKay is getting a lot of media attention. It would generate about $6 billion in new revenue by eliminating all sales tax exemptions and exclusions unrelated to health care, prescription drugs, food, residential rent and fuel and utilities. The savings would be used to reduce property taxes, specifically by eliminating the portion related to the Required Local Effort for Education.  However, as educational expenses grow, the amendment would not prohibit counties from assessing property owners in other ways.

On January 30^th, the TBRC Commission spent time talking about Constitutional Amendment 1 which was passed by a large majority in the statewide election yesterday.  The Commission members feel that the voters of Florida have sent a clear message that they need tax relief and this helps the Commission focus on additional tax reforms.  The difference between tax relief and tax reform in their mind was that tax relief was imminent and tax reform is a true process change in the way Florida taxes its citizens.  The Sales Tax Exclusion proposal (CP0012) will be discussed and voted on February 11-12 as well as any other relevant sales tax exemption proposals (sun setting of tax exemptions) and property tax proposals.  Additionally, CP0035, Local Option Tax, was discussed allowing local government to create a tax or service to tax sales or have an ad valorem tax to raise money for community college funding.  

Secretary of State Kurt S. Browning reported to the TBRC and noted that TBRC constitutional amendments per rule would be listed first on the ballot before legislative and citizens' initiatives.  He further noted that it appears that only two citizens' initiatives are close to getting the required number of signatures to be on the ballot as a citizen initiative constitutional amendment, and they are:  1.) the Marriage Petition;  and 2.) Hometown Democracy. 

The week of February 10^th is critical for votes on issues that will affect FAHSA members. 

The committee will be voting on all sales tax proposals on February 11. If you know a member of the committee, please call Janegale Boyd.  For a list of the committee members, please click here.

Sponsor

FAHSA's Preferred Business Associates Program (PBAs) -- A list of PBAs can be found by on the FAHSA Web site www.fahsa.org and selecting Preferred Business Associates from the left side menu bar or clicking on the FAHSA Preferred Business Associates Page hyperlink. FAHSA members can also use the on-line directory to search for PBAs by specialty.

FAHSA members may use the Job Mart services at no charge. A nominal fee of $25 will be charged to nonmembers.

Your Job Mart advertisement will be displayed on our Web site for approximately three months. The FAHSA Link is published weekly and distributed to our membership which is comprised of nursing homes, CCRCs, HUD housing, assisted living facilities, independent living facilities and companies/firms.

To reserve advertisement space in our Job Mart program, please complete the application and fax it to FAHSA at (850) 671-3790 or E-mail Erin Steele at esteele@fahsa.org

FAHSA is pleased to tell you about the FAHSA Group Purchasing Organization (GPO).  The GPO program further enhances the value you receive from your membership and is required for us to be in compliance with Medicare Safe Harbor requirements The FAHSA GPO program, in conjunction with the AAHSA, Care Purchasing (CPSI), and FMS Purchasing and Services (FMS) GPOs offer you the opportunity to save daily purchases from over 200 vendor partners.  To view these vendor partners please click on the Preferred Business Associated Guide and go to pages 22-25.

FAHSA members participating in these programs are saving from seven to 50% off list prices.  In addition to these savings, your participation allows FAHSA to receive non-dues revenue based on your purchases.  This revenue assists FAHSA to provide the educational programs and advocacy you expect while keeping membership dues' to a minimum.

There is no obligation or commitment on your part to participate in the FAHSA GPO programs. This is simply a value added member benefit. Our program is also not exclusive; you can belong to one or all three GPOs.  We simply ask that you look at all of the FAHSA programs and decide the best savings for you. 

We have three (3) Enrollment Agreements and ask that you complete one or all and fax the completed enrollment to the GPO at the number listed on the form. Click below to obtain the enrollment form. 

1. AAHSA Enrollment Form
2. Care Purchasing Enrollment Form
3. FMS Purchasing & Services Enrollment Form

If you are already enrolled in one of the GPOs, you are still required to complete a new enrollment form in order to have the FAHSA GPO covered under the Medicare Safe Harbor Laws.

If you have any questions, please call Julie Copeland, Vendor Relations Coordinator or Janegale Boyd, President/CEO (850) 671-3700.  Thank you for your continued support of FAHSA.