Mercer County Housing Authority has earned itself a little less regulation and a little easier path to getting certain kinds of funding with its annual report card.

The authority received a score of 92 out of 100 points under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Public Housing Assessment System.

"That's quite an accomplishment since that's our goal in the strategic plan," said board member Timothy Jablon.

The program assessed the authority's public housing units for the year ending June 30, 2002, and excluded the Section 8 program and Lavigne Manor, Patterson Place and Landay Apartments, all in Farrell.

By reaching high performer status, the authority will earn more money for capital improvements and extra points on grant applications, and physical inspections will be done every other year instead of annually, said authority Executive Director L. DeWitt Boosel.

"The real key is the extra money that we get," Boosel said, adding that he doesn't know how much that will be.

The authority received 28 out of 30 points for the interior and exterior condition of its buildings, 29 out of 30 for financial condition, 26 out of 30 for management and 9 out of 10 for resident satisfaction.

"It's really a team effort to keep those scores up," Boosel said, commending his staff.

But the report also shows some areas for improvement, most noticeably in getting apartments rented after a tenant has left. The problem has been nearly constant for years and the authority is considering amending its policies to try to get people moved in faster, Boosel said.

The biggest problem is at Fay Terrace in Pymatuning Township, where many people refuse to move because they lack transportation, he said.

The authority also must improve maintenance, communication with residents and safety, he said.

"Even though we got high performer status, we still have some things to address," he said.

The authority scored 89 on last year's evaluation, and was last a high performer when it earned a 94 in 1998-99.