The Board of Commissioners of the Picayune Housing Authority discussed increasing the late fee on monthly rent to cut down on office costs and to insure on time payments at Monday afternoon’s meeting.

Currently all tenants who pay their rent on the eighth of the month are charged a $5 late fee. If a tenant pays on the 19th or later, they are charged an additional $10 late fee, said Shirley LaVigne, executive director of the Picayune Housing Authority.

There is an average of 30 notices for late rent a month and they are usually sent to the same people each month, LaVigne said.

“It might be an incentive for some people,” said board member Hadi Cibula.

Cibula also pointed out that it would decrease the amount of work for the office staff who prepares and sends out the notices each month.

The issue of the late fees was tabled until the next meeting.

LaVigne reported that the bid for the Capital Fund Program to replace patio doors on some of the units had to be postponed. Last week, another company contacted the housing authority office about the bid. The bid had to be postponed until Monday at 2 p.m. so that the company’s questions could be addressed.

LaVigne also gave her quarterly report to the board. As of June 30:

— There are two housing vacancies.

— 423 work orders had been issued since the beginning of the year.

— $177 was collected in late rent for the month of July.

— The regular operating checking account balance was $175,780.30.

— The balance in the money market account was $85,213.87.

— The balance on the certificates of deposit was $495,981.70.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development requires the Picayune Housing Authority to have at least three months of operating costs available in cash at all times. The agency also requires the housing authority to have the $300 security deposit for its 276 units also available at all times, LaVigne said.

The board adjourned until its next scheduled meeting Monday, Aug. 12, at 4 p.m.