Betsy McCright is executive director of the Chattanooga Housing Authority.For decades, Chattanooga public housing residents have been charged only a $5 penalty for late rent.
This month CHA board Chairman Eddie Holmes asked state legislators to boost the late fee up to 10 percent of a person’s rent.
The bill has passed in the House and Senate and the proposed increase will be presented to Chattanooga Housing Authority board members in May.
CHA will have a 30-day public comment period starting this month. Housing officials expect to have information concerning the proposed increase on its website today at www.chahousing.org.
“We’re at a point now, because we are rated on how well we collect rent, we just want to send a message that rent is very important and it must be paid on time every single month,” said CHA Executive Director Betsy McCright.