D3 Friday, 02.06.2015 The Daily Herald
D2 Friday, 02.06.2015 The Daily Herald
Privatized housing residents to feel ‘BAH’ pinch F amilies living in privatized military housing units will not escape the effect of moves Congress made last month to dampen the value of Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), says a Defense Department housing expert who is coordinating with service branches to implement the changes. The result will be that families moving into privatized base housing will begin to pay rent that is 1 percent higher than their monthly BAH, and could be 3 percent higher by 2017. Older generations of military retirees and veterans might not know that, starting in 1997, the services began to enter partnerships with private developers to renovate or build, and then manage and maintain, stateside family housing. Today there are 205,000 privatized military housing units, mostly apartments and townhouses but also single family homes. Indeed, the only stateside housing the military still owns are historic general officer quarters and small clusters of homes at small, remote bases where no private partners could be enticed to cut takeover deals. Families electing to
TOM PHILPOTT MILITARY UPDATE live in privatized base units sign rental contracts that, until this year, had one unique feature: rents always matched their monthly BAH. Those who agree to pay using payroll allotment avoid having to pay a month’s rent as a security deposit. Other occupants must write monthly checks or arrange electronic transfers to the housing management company just like families have to do renting on the local economy. Congress last month voted to allow BAH rates, starting in 2015, to be trimmed in two ways: by setting rates to cover only 99 percent, not 100 percent, of average rental costs for members’ pay grade and assignment area; also by no longer including in BAH added dollars to cover the expense of renters insurance in case personal property is damaged or stolen. Both changes are
reflected in BAH rates published Jan. 1. And as military renters moving into housing on the economy feel the effect of slightly dampened allowances, so too will families moving into privatized base housing, the Defense official said. He declined to be named so he could speak more frankly about privatized housing and new BAH changes. “The basic premise is that whatever is happening to everybody in town, whatever added burden they’re bearing whether it’s 1 percent [of average rental costs] out of pocket or absent renter’s insurance, then people on base will bear the same burden,” the official said. A BAH rate protection rule ensures that families living off base won’t see a drop in allowances unless they move to new assignments or have to change residences. That same rule protects those already residing on base. As long as they stay in current base housing, they won’t have to pay rent in excess of monthly BAH. Sometime soon, however, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy housing officials will give notice that members moving into privatized housing will have to pay rent equal to BAH plus 1 percent. That
will match the 1 percent absorption rate designed into 2015 BAH rates, and already being felt by new occupants of housing on the local economy. The out-of-pocket cost, the housing expert explained, is “not hard to figure out because the absorption is the same for each pay grade all across the country,” he said. “With 1 percent, the absorption range … is going to range from about $16 a month up to $25.” Under current privatization deals, housing managers are required to provide renters insurance to military tenants. Under new contracts, renters will have to purchase their own. Some might find they already have such coverage through USAA or other insurers that are popular with the military. If they don’t, families will be encouraged to buy their own renters insurance but it will be their personal choice. The Obama administration’s defense budget for fiscal 2016 is expected to seek another 1 percent dampening of BAH next January and again in 2017. If Congress agrees, BAH would cover only 97 percent of rental costs. Military housing officials have more in mind than fairness-for-all-BAH
IN UNIFORM
MARRIAGE LICENSES
Veterans news
Veterans calendar Disabled American Veterans, Martin T. Sofie Sunshine Chapter 13: 7 p.m. first Thursdays, Lynnwood Elks, 6620 196th St. SW. Call 425-218-0034 or email don.whedon06@gmail.com. Fleet Reserve Association Branch 170: Branch meetings are held at 5 p.m. second Wednesdays, 6802 Beverly Blvd., Everett. Call 425-353-2600. The Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 12: 7 p.m. fourth Tuesdays, Lynnwood Elks Club, 6620 196th St. SW. Call Keith Reyes, 844-4MOPH12. Coast Guard Auxiliary: 7 p.m. second Tuesdays, Port of Everett Conference Center, 404 14th St. Marie Porterfield, 425-629-3241, 509-949-6715 or Marie. Porterfield64@gmail.com. Fleet Reserve Association and Ladies Fleet Reserve Association Unit and Branch 18: Lunch noon, meeting 1 p.m. second Saturdays, 23003 56th Ave. W., Mountlake Terrace. 425771-2774. Veterans: A group of veterans of wars in foreign lands (not associated with VFW) meets at 1 p.m., second Wednesdays, Carl Gipson Senior Center, 3025 Lombard, Everett. Call 425-257-8780.
American Legion Legion Post 127: Bothell American Legion meets 7 p.m. second Wednesdays at 21920 Highway 9 SE. The post has a service officer to help with veterans issues. Call Burt Marsh, commander, 206999-3254. Legion Post 76: Arlington Post 76 and auxiliary meetings, 7 p.m. second Tuesdays. SAL meetings 6 p.m. first Thursdays. All meetings are downstairs at 115 N. Olympic Ave., Arlington. Call 360-4352492. Breakfast is served from 8 to 10:30 a.m. the first Saturday of each month for $6 a plate. Legion Post 58: Arthur Kincaid Post meets 7 p.m. third Tuesdays, Odd Fellows Building, 610 Lewis St., Monroe. Call Bob, 360-863-3544 or go to www.americanlegionmonroe.org.
Maintaining a routine
NAVY
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Garrett Hartzell, a logistics specialist from Everett, performs maintenance on a fire hose aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry in the Persian Gulf. Legion Post 66: 6 p.m. third Mondays, 117 Sixth Ave. S., Edmonds. Call Les, 206546-6831. Legion Post 234: 7 p.m. second Mondays, Legion Hall, 22909 56th Ave. W., Mountlake Terrace. Call Frank Martinez, 425-697-4102. Legion Post 37: 7 p.m. third Thursdays, Lynnwood Elks Club, 6620 196th St. SW. 425-585-0279. Legion Post 92: Stanwood offers prime rib dinner, 4:30 p.m., third Fridays. Legion and auxiliary meeting, 7 p.m., second Mondays, 26921 88th Ave. NW. Service office, 360-629-8021, open 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to help veterans. Legion Post 96: 7 p.m. second Tuesdays, Legion Hall, 1201 First St., Snohomish. Call 360-568-5340. Legion Post 6: 6 p.m. second Thursdays, the Fleet Reserve Association Club, 6802 Beverly Blvd., Everett. Call Marvin at 425-923-8172. Legion Post 181: 7 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays, Lake Stevens Community Center, 1812 124th Ave. NE. Call Tom at 425-314-5865, Tony at 360-631-3242, or Vern at 425-343-9637; email info@ post181.org; or go to www.post181.org.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Everett Old Guard VFW Post 2100: 6:30 p.m. third Tuesdays, 2711 Oaks Ave., Everett. Call Don Wischmann, 425-7609031. Ladies Auxiliary 2100 meets 6:30 p.m. second Mondays. Call 425-337-1559. Go to www.vfwpost2100.org. Gold Bar Martin-Osterholtz VFW Post 9417: 6 p.m. first Thursdays, 301
we should do.” DoD and service officials discussed for 18 months how rents on base should be handled if Congress agreed to a plan to curb BAH rates. The services had a different worry in 1997 when they began signing privatization deals with developers on the understanding that rents collected would equal BAH. At that time, BAH covered only 80 percent to 85 percent of average rental costs on the economy. Some developers soon struggled to avoid default. In 1999, then-Defense Secretary William Cohen won a pledge from Congress gradually to raise BAH until rates covered 100 percent of average rental costs off base. The big worry for privatization deals shifted to windfall profits. That’s when the services began restructuring deals so a portion of rental streams went into recapitalization accounts, which are jointly managed by local military housing officials to ensure housing quality is sustained. The big worry now might be getting renters on base to understand. To comment, e-mail milupdate@aol.com, write to Military Update, P.O. Box 231111, Centreville, VA, 20120-1111 or go to www.militaryupdate.com.
VITAL STATISTICS
To submit news and photos for this column, contact reporter Gale Fiege at 425-339-3427 or gfiege@heraldnet.com.
Homeless, unemployed veterans can get help through Workforce Snohomish. Help includes employment assistance, support services, help with VA benefits and housing. Call Gordon Meade at 425921-3478 or write to gordon. meade@workforce snohomish.org. The Veterans of Foreign Wars posts and auxiliaries of Snohomish County are looking for new members. Needed is your last separation certification or other proof of eligibility. Auxiliary members are wives, widows, mothers, etc. For more information about joining a local post, call 425-337-1559.
recipients in requiring tenants on base to pay some rent out of pocket as BAH rates are curbed. Those rent payments not only cover fees promised by contract to housing managers, but part of those dollars support local “recapitalization” accounts to repair and maintain base housing units. The housing official explained that about onethird of privatized units, mostly those in highrent areas like California and Hawaii, have robust recapitalization accounts because the BAH there is relatively high. Another third of base housing have adequate maintenance and repair dollars. But the final third of privatization housing inventories are in rural areas, mostly on or near Army and Air Force bases. Their recapitalization accounts are barely sufficient to keeping housing in good condition. These bases could begin to see housing deteriorate if cash flows from renters are allowed to fall by 3 percent, after inflation, over the next three years. “As far as we’re concerned it’s an equity issue,” the official said. “But it’s also a maintaining-qualityof-housing issue. And if you put those two together, it’s just obvious that’s what
Third St., Gold Bar. Call Doug White, 425-870-7298. Ladies Auxiliary: 3 p.m. first Thursdays. Call Arden King at 360793-2786. Oak Harbor Whitehead-Muzzall VFW Post 7392: 360-675-4048 or go to vfwpost7392.org. Sultan VFW Post 2554 and Ladies Auxiliary: 7 p.m., second Thursdays, United Methodist Church, 211 Birch Ave., Sultan. Call 425-870-0235. Arlington Boyer-Daniel VFW Post 1561: 7 p.m. first Tuesdays. For meeting location, call 425-232-8453, 360-4356677 or go to vfw1561.org. Monroe VFW Post 7511: 7 p.m., second Thursdays, IOOF Hall, 610 Lewis St., Monroe. Call Ken, 425-315-3509. Edmonds VFW Post 8870 and Ladies Auxiliary: Lunch at 11:30 a.m., meeting at 12:30 p.m. second Fridays, Edmonds American Legion Hall, 117 Sixth Ave. S., Edmonds. Fred at 206-940-7502, email quartermaster@ vfw8870.org or go to www.vfw8870. org. Snohomish Gay Jones VFW Post 921 and Auxiliary: 1 p.m. second Saturdays, Boys & Girls Club, 402 Second St., Snohomish. Call 425-3977111. Lynnwood VFW Post 1040: 7 p.m., first Thursdays, Alderwood Youth Club, 19619 24th Ave. W., Lynnwood. Call Frank, 425-697-4102. Lynnwood VFW Post 1040 Ladies Auxiliary meets from 7 to 8 p.m. at the same location. Contact Myra Rintamaki, 206-235-0348 for more information. To submit news for this column, contact reporter Gale Fiege: 425-338-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
Zeitler, Karena Denice and Diamond, Micah Peretz Hendrickson, Timothy Michael and Hendrickson, Cynthia Janean Munoz, Lopez Alejandro and Pina, Galvan Jose Antonio Nieves, Xavier Francisco and Qamou, Rahaf Goshorn-Maroney Joseph and Robinson, Margaret Michel Ramsey, Joshua Caleb and Cronauer, Ashlynn Page Kamau, James Njoroge and Kemboi, Irene Jeruto Bruns, Robert Scott and Messner, Jeana Lynn Webb, Marryn Renee and Mathis, Scott Andrew Wan, Hongpeng and Yang, Ai Hua Faulk, Adam Theodore and Bloms, Austra Mavourneen Millette, Aaron Robert and Martin, Layla Michelle Raymond, Joseph Glenn and Alexander, Cricket Fran Baez, Vazquez Minerva and Galvez, Hernandez Ruben Barber, Edward Daniel and Vanden, Akker Carole Robin Katherine Koenig, Darnell Jonathan and Garland, Jana Marie Hale, Phillip Ross and Knight, Leatha Jane Gomez, Gonzalez Maria Angelica and Alvarado, Cisneros Jose Emilio Zhakun, Mykola Leontiyovych and Torchilo, Olga Leonidovna Bergstrom, Sarah Danielle and Yetter, Steven John Daniel Lester, Cassie Marie and Moore, Kenneth GeorgeJacob Khan, Bebe Zalina and Ysawa, David Hartleben, Donald Herbert and Morehouse, Mari Lam, Wing Yu and Nicholson, Christian Alexander Samuels, Nathan Andrew and Cooper, Krystal Marie Evenson, Cynthia Nichole and Swanson, Kevin Neal Vargas, Maria Leticia and Martinez,-Flores Glenn Normando Viduya, Michael Scott and Fernandez, Ruth Sampol Dahl, Benjamin James and Mckay, Laura Dannette Keay, Jessica Terri and Brickle, Mccord Edward Thompson, Douglas Eric and Sourathathone, Choun Stockman, Jack Edward and Debroeck, Harriet Porter Head, Kurtis Dean and Nguyen, Kimi Cho, Sung Hyun and An, Jae Im Wynn, Spencer Jon and Wynn, Allana Kalliope Hager, Alexander Isiah and Story, Christina Rochelle Sovereign, Stacey Lee and Kosnosky, Tawni Joana Benson, Cassandra Nicole and Atman, Adrian Allen Day, Michael Joseph Jr and Wysocki, Jennifer Rae Vera, Juan Lorenzo and Bilkovich, Connie Garrick, Kimberly Lynn and Deckwa, Scott Arnold Ponce, Neri Alexandra Dayanara and Medina, Nava Ismael Alejandro Hernandez, Lineth Alejandra and Pena, Games Humberto Smith, Daniel Moshe and Freda, Ariel Judith Lu, Yue Ming and Meng, Lian Quan Dent, Steven Douglas and Stacy, Laurie Ann
DISSOLUTIONS Tesia Britton and Curtis Britton Kathleen Narruhn and Duane Narruhn Samantha Danberg and Kevin Danberg Reshmi Chand and Rishan Chand Jessica Lewis and Ronald Lewis Jennifer Holmes and Dennis Holmes Charles Tonjes and Wanda Tonjes Joyce Kellenberger and Joseph Abreu Iii Kira Durant Vs Kimberly Moody Marsha Wallerstedt and Farley Wallerstedt Maryann Natan and Saul Natan Daryl Jenks and Carrie Jenks Richard Radcliff and Anne Radcliff Shane Epperson and Somer Epperson Christian Scholz and Tiffany Scholz Erika Caldwell and James Caldwell Donda Peterson and David Peterson Tran Khuu and Quang Quach Megan Bowen and Christopher Bowen Nguyen Huynh and Tuan Nguyen Charles Provost and April Provost Scott Shields and Teresa Shields Salvacion Marshall and David Marshall Mathew Ball and Hayley Ball Heather Eversole and Justin Eversole James Crickmay and Lynette Crickmay Nancy Garcia and Miguel Fierro Windy Jowders and Heather Hafford Tina Martinez and Saulo Martinez Mendiola Karlen Harkness and Erik Davidson Amy Shields and Todd Shields Kristen Granroth and Erik Granroth Jeannie Sears and Mark Sears Crystal Whitman and Frank Whitman Kristine Pieper and Kevin Pieper Michele Street and Luis Ramos-Jara Daniel Ferguson and Lacey Ferguson Roschelle Clarberg and Troy Clarberg
DEATHS Adams, Diane, 66, Marysville, Jan. 24
Amundson, Irene, 97, Stanwood, Jan. 25 Applebaum, Lillian, 98, Edmonds, Jan. 16 Arias, Juan, 22, Marysille, Jan. 22 Baez-Vargas, Salud, 76, Everett, Jan. 20 Bagby, Grace, 95, Tuckwilla, Jan. 19 Ballard, Roy, 73, Snohomish, Jan. 20 Barker, Betty, 81, Marysville, Jan. 19 Bear, Patricia, 75, Mukilteo, Jan. 21 Beaulieu, Robert, 83, Kingston, Jan. 26 Bell, Betty, 92, Edmonds, Jan. 20 Berkshire, Matthew, 57, Orcas, Jan. 21 Black, William, 70, Stanwood, Jan. 23 Blackburn, Sophia, 98, Marysville, Jan. 17 Blair, Ruth, 88, Mill Creek, Jan. 21 Braden, Doris, 89, Snohomish, Jan. 21 Buchea, Dolores, 85, Edmonds, Jan. 13 Buckley, Kenneth, 88, Monroe, Jan. 22 Caughlin Jr., James, 81, Mount Vernon, Jan. 18 Cockbain, Michael, 73, Snohomish, Jan. 26 Davis, Nancy, 80, Lynnwood, Jan. 22 Dean, Diane, 73, Everett, Jan. 21 Doucet, Jack, 65, Everett, Jan. 24 Edwins, Maxwell, 25, Marysville, Jan. 17 Elliott, Verlin, 82, Everett, Jan. 18 Fegler, Geroge, 87, Marysville, Jan. 19 Fiorito, Margaret, 84, Stanwood, Jan. 24 Fortner, James, 72, Lake Stevens, Jan. 21 Fry, Tami, 53, Arlington, Jan. 22 Fuller, Robert, 65, Bothell, Jan. 16 Gardner, Mary, 79, Snohomish, Jan. 13 Geer, Earl, 101, Everett, Jan. 23 Gilbert, Kenneth, 79, Mtlake Terrace, Jan. 18 Gilkey, Dolores, 84, Woodinville, Jan. 24 Gonzales, Hildaree, 95, Everett, Jan. 26 Grant, Darlene, 79, Seattle, Jan. 21 Gregg, Randal, 39, Marysville, Jan. 25 Grim, Dianne, 57, Everett, Jan. 22 Grisham, Walter, 88, Langley, Jan. 26 Hanners, Richard, 67, Snohomish, Jan. 22 Hansberry, Vera, 93, Lake Stevens, Jan. 23 Harcrow, Florence, 69, Arlington, Jan. 24 Harry, Eileen, 88, Lynnwood, Jan. 17 Hartley, Shirley, 85, Bothell, Jan. 18 Hatch, Keiko, 86, Arlington, Jan. 22 Haug, Ada, 98, Everett, Jan. 17 Howard, Antony aka: Tony, 77, Monroe, Jan. 19 Hummels, Rosita, 92, Lynnwood, May 7 Johnson, Richard, 77, Sultan, Jan. 23 Johnson, Dale, 92, Marysville, Jan. 22 Kramer, Robert, 68, Snohomish, Jan. 21 Lagerstrom, Raymond, 72, Lynnwood, Jan. 21 Lambert, Joline, 57, Everett, Jan. 21 Landry, Raymond, 85, Shoreline, Jan. 23 Lang, Roger, 85, Sedro-Woolley, Dec. 15 Larsen, Beatrice aka Betty, 86, Everett, Jan. 22 Lawrence, Robert, 86, Everett, Jan. 20 Lipetska, Gwendolyn, 43, Snohomish, Jan. 27 Long, Bonita aka Bonnie, 66, Edmonds, Jan. 23 Loth, Laurence, 75, Lake Stevens, Jan. 24 Luke, Ralph, 85, Snohomish, Jan. 23 Ly, Savat, 67, Everett, Jan. 20 Mangiante, Rosal, 97, Seattle, Jan. 14 Martinez, Amanda, 39, Everett, Jan. 23 McAlles, John, 61, Everett, Jan. 20 McMurray, Dean, 58, Everett, Jan. 12 Meline, Maurice, 80, Marysville, Jan. 21 Millard, Maxine, 95, Lynnwood, Jan. 22 Moell, James, 88, Marysville, Jan. 26 Morris, James, 65, Tulalip, Jan. 19, 2014 Nguyen, Bang, 74, Everett, Jan. 25 Pattie, William, 56, Everett, Jan. 26 Peele, Dallas, 71, Granite Falls, Jan. 16 Perry, Darlene, 86, Everett, Jan. 23 Peterson, Garry, 72, Lynnwood, Jan. 25 Pravitz, Donald, 71, Everett, Jan. 18 Rabitz, Irmgard, 93, Marysville, Jan. 23 Richards, David, 62, Snohomish, Jan. 18 Rivallier, Norman, 93, Marysville, Jan. 22 Rogers, Denis, 75, Snohomish, Jan. 18 Ruthruff-Delaney, Denay, 43, Everett, Oct. 18 Ryder, Janice, 84, Everett, Jan. 21 Schakohl, Mona, 82, Bothell, Jan. 14 Schlecht, Adele, 95, Lynnwood, Jan. 23 Senger, Virginia, 77, Monroe, Jan. 23 Shapley, Bernice aka Birdie, 84, Bothell, Jan. 17 Sorg, Betty, 83, Mill Creek, Jan. 15 Staberow, Kenneth, 63, Brier, Jan. 21 Stevens, James, 85, Everett, Jan. 25 Stevens, Robert, 70, Lynnwood, Jan. 17 Storsteen, Howard, 63, Everett, Jan. 21 Swain, John, 89, Marysville, Jan. 19 Tarp, Virginia, 94, Edmonds, Jan. 24 Trimborn, Carles, 91, Lynnwood, Jan. 24 Vallandry, Katheryn, 70, Lynnwood, Jan. 25 Wahl, Mary, 88, Lynnwood, Jan. 21 Walchenbach, John, 79, Lake Stevens, Jan. 25 Walsh, Hugh, 70, Marysville, Jan. 25 Wehl, Jeffrey, 57, Everett, Jan. 23 Welch, S, 89, Mukilteo, Jan. 17 Whisman, Mary, 91, Edmonds, Jan. 20 White, Jr, Ralph, 93, Mill Creek, Jan. 26 Wick, Lindley, 68, Everett, Jan. 21 Yount, Alice, 99, Everett, Jan. 16 Zorich, Jay, 63, Everett, Jan. 25 Zugoff, Anita, 95, Everett, Jan. 22