Lexington County wants to assist more people interested in home buyouts and set a deadline for new applications.

The plan must be approved by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The County Council voted last week to seek approval to amend its disaster recovery action plan which would request:

• A reduction in the percentage of money HUD requires to be spent in low- to moderate-income areas from 70% to 50%. That will allow the County to assist more homeowners interested in home buyouts.

• To reallocate about $2.2 million from the home rehabilitation program to supplement the home buyout program. That would allow the county to assist more applicants who want home buyouts.

• To establish a Sept. 28, 2018 deadline for new applications for both home buyout and rehabilitation. After the September deadline, no more applications would be accepted.

After the October 2015 flooding, the federal government allocated $21.3 million for eligible disaster recovery.

So far, the County has spent $4.9 million on home buyouts and rehabilitation.

The county has received 88 applications for home buyouts, many of which are not considered low income under HUD’s requirements.

The county has bought 37 flooded homes.

Homeowners can see the county’s action plan and comment by emailing rebound@lex-co.com, or by calling

(803) 785-8121.