Education is the key in the success rate of first-time homebuyer programs initiated by local government.

That and other comments were brief Monday as 17 residents and others gathered for a public hearing with Warren County supervisors as they began an application process to the federal Home Investments Partnership Program.

Comments focused on ensuring that potential qualifiers not only attend mandatory eight-hour classes, but gain lessons from them.

“The level of financial literacy is not where it needs to be,” said Jean O’Neil, a volunteer in a money management program offered through the Warren County Extension Service.

A staff of volunteers trained by the Extension Office meets monthly to offer classes to those referred by various agencies, most notably the Affordable Housing Program run by the City of Vicksburg.

Rose Bingham of We Care Community Center, which will act as developer and selection committee in the program via its community housing development organization, said the Walnut Street nonprofit has staff certified under the FDIC Money Smart program to provide financial education if funding is secured.

The Home Investment Partnerships Program, or HOME program, provides deferred loans of $25,000 which are forgiven over a 10-year period. Certificates received by applicants earning less than the $39,600 designated as “low income” for federal and state grants must attend the eight-hour homebuyer education classes. Certificates received at the end of the classes are good for two years, said Bobby Rayburn of Jackson-based Housing & Finance Services LLC, which will act in consulting and administrative roles.

Despite the presence of two similar housing programs, successful applicants are limited to one down-payment grant per funding cycle.

“They cannot receive a double set of home fund grants,” Rayborn said.

Full funding of the program would ensure $250,000 for Warren County, or $25,000 in down payment assistance for potential buyers. Terms also stipulate successful new homebuyers must stay in the home 10 years to avoid paying back any portion of the down-payment grants. Those amounts vary depending on at what point during the 10 years they decide to sell, if at all.

Applicants are not limited in how much their income may go up after winning grant money for a house, but if the house is sold before 10 years has passed, they must sell the house to someone who falls within low- income brackets.

Additional comments and questions can be forwarded to the Chancery Clerk’s Office or We Care Community Center.

On the agendaMeeting Monday, Warren County officials:Took comments from landowners concerning a partial abandonment of Freeman Road, a cul-de-sac off U.S. 61 North less than a half-mile north of River Region Medical Center. A one-eighth section of the roadway between the end of pavement and Oak Ridge Road, overgrown with brush for years, was slated for development by Robert Henley, owner of 61 North Mini-Storage. No formal proceedings had taken place despite attempts dating back eight years to abandon it, District 1 Supervisor David McDonald said.Property owners Hugh and Myra Logue questioned supervisors on whether an easement across the property had been granted either by supervisors or county engineers to developer Pete Buford. Such an act cannot be approved on private property. Supervisors denied the charge.McDonald said later assurances of its abandonment were given by former supervisor Dwight Woodward to a previous landowner, who then allowed access across it by Buford. Formal action was put off until more discussion takes place.Approved a $70,000 allocation to the Parks and Recreation Commission.Approved a $45,303.69 payment to Mayrant & Associates for renovations at the future E-911 building at First North and Clay streets.Declared a local emergency in response to Friday’s powerful storms and rising Mississippi River stages. The action makes the county eligible for reimbursement for debris removal efforts.Approved a pay estimate of $728,665 for the 2007 Paving Project.Authorized advertising for bids on replacing the Redbone Road bridge.Approved invoices totaling $52,260.37 for County Engineer John McKee and $4,425 for Board Attorney Paul Winfield.Awarded a $30,452 bid to Puckett Machinery for a self-propelled asphalt compactor and a $12,660 bid to Columbus-based Waters Truck & Tractor for a 12-ton dual-wheel trailer.