FINANCE DEPARTMENT
Contact person
Galen Galbreath
BH Finance Manager
(406)-338-5031 ext.259
GalenG@blackfeethousing.com
Blackfeet Housing (BH) Finance Department is responsible for the daily management of the Entity’s finances. Funding is provided to the Blackfeet Tribe from the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
BH Finance offers employee payroll and benefits management, accounts receivable management, accounts payable and fiscal accounting for IHBG funds utilized locally to serve the tenants and homeowners living in BH assisted housing.
The goal of the Finance Department at Blackfeet Housing is to provide courteous and efficient customer service to employees, contractors, vendors, tenants and participants. We pledge timely response to inquiries, and fair application of our policies and procedures to all.
BH FINANCE STAFF
Blackfeet Housing Finance Staff consists of the following team members:
Galen Galbreath, Chief Financial Officer- Galen is responsible for the daily operation of the Finance Department. That responsibility includes: Finance Staff supervision, General Ledger Maintenance, Year-to-date fiscal reporting, Audit Completion and overseer for Tax Credit, Financial Services, Voucher Rental Assistance, Rural Housing and Economic Development (RHED) and Lease Purchase Program Accounting.
Stacy J. Brown, Assistant Financial Officer – Stacy is responsible for the year-to-date fiscal reporting for RHED, Lease Purchase Program, and Tax Credit #4 Rehab accounting. She is second in charge of the department and is cross-trained in accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll.
Donna M. Little Dog, Payroll and Benefits Technician – Donna is responsible for the payroll processing, employee benefits, federal and state tax reporting. She is a trustee for the employee pension fund and is cross-trained in accounts payable and accounts receivable.
Glenda Bird Rattler, Accounts Payable Technician – Glenda is responsible for the payment processing of bills incurred by the entity. She also provides contractor payroll services for BH Renovation. Glenda is cross-trained in accounts receivable.
Geri Butterfly, Accounts Receivable Technician – Geri is responsible for the cash collection of rents due Blackfeet Housing from tenants and home buyers. She prepares daily deposits and maintains the cash drawer.
Marcella Gobert, Collection Supervisor – Marcella is responsible for administering the Entity’s Payment and Collection Policy for tenants and home buyers in BH assisted housing. She counsels delinquent tenants, executes repayment agreements, services accounts and prepares court collection and eviction cases for hearing in Blackfeet Tribal Court.
Henrietta LaPlant, Collection Technician – Henrietta assists the Collection Supervisor in the administration of Blackfeet Housing’s Payment and Collection Policy. She reviews delinquent accounts, prepares and mails notices, executes repayment agreements and payroll deductions for Tribal, school district and federal employees with encumbrances to Blackfeet Housing.
Gayle Burdeau, Tax Credit Compliance Officer – Gayle is responsible for the Tax Credit accounting for projects LP#1, LP#2 and LP#3. She does both accounts receivable and accounts payable for the three limited partnerships in addition to enforcing the lease compliance for tax credit tenants. Gayle also serves as the Executive Secretary for BH Administration.
BH PROGRAMS
BH Finance provides accounting for the following programs of the Entity:
IHBG – The Indian Housing Block Grant is funded yearly through the Native American Housing Assistance Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA). Funds are received from US Department of HUD derived from a formula based upon the total number of current managed units by the Entity. Each year the Entity and the Tribe are required to submit an Indian Housing Plan (IHP), which outlines how the funds will be spent to promote safe, sanitary and habitable housing activities for residents of the Blackfeet Reservation. Allowable activities include: maintenance, renovation, development, financial services, tenant services, planning and administration.
TAX CREDIT – Blackfeet Housing currently has three tax credit projects; two under management, one in the final construction phase, and one in the development stage. Rental receipts are collected from tenants for the projects under management. Construction funds are received from investors of the limited partnerships for the remaining construction.
LEASE PURCHASE PROGRAM – Blackfeet Housing in partnership with the Fannie Mae Foundation and local lenders purchase dwellings and place them in the Lease Purchase Program. Small renovations are done to the properties to keep them in the affordable housing range, and participants are selected based on income, credit-worthiness and ability to secure a mortgage from a lender to assume the purchase price after a twenty-four month trial period. Rental receipts are collected, and renovation costs are accounted for in the Finance Department.
RURAL HOUSING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (RHED) – Blackfeet Housing was awarded a RHED Grant in 2005. Funds are utilized for economic, cultural and personal enrichment for families residing in BH assisted Housing. BH Finance processes payment for claims against the grant for activities, sundry and salaries.
BH FINANCE HOURS OF OPERATION
MONDAY - THURSDAY 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
FRIDAY CLOSED
IMPORTANT SUBMISSION INFORMATION
VENDOR PAYMENTS – Vendor payments are made every Thursday. Invoices may be received in the mail, and are batched for processing on Wednesday mornings.
CONTRACTOR AND LABOR PAYROLL – Contractor/Labor payroll is disbursed every Thursday at 3:00 p.m. Complete pay requests including inspections, certified payroll (when applicable) must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday of the pay week.
REGULAR PAYROLL – Complete (signed) timecards are due no later than 4:00 p.m. on the Monday before payroll. Changes to deductions, leave donations must be made at the time of submission of time cards. Regular payroll is disbursed on Wednesday after 11:00 a.m. Employee deduction checks are mailed to vendors on that same day.
WAGE VERIFICATIONS, PAYROLL DEDUCTION REQUESTS – Wage verifications and other requests are processed daily depending upon workload. Please submit the request to the appropriate staff. Research information, i.e. wage history, W-2 or 1099 copies may take longer depending upon the staff workload and schedule.