Fort Huachuca, Arizona - Many Service members across the country should now be aware that the Basic Allowance for Housing, or BAH, rates for 2015 have changed, and for Soldiers assigned to Fort Huachuca, it has decreased drastically.

BAH is determined by an array of market analysis reports collected from the surrounding area by a government-hired firm. The changes are usually a result of the changing local economic situation including local rent and utility costs, causing large potential changes on a year-to-year basis and dependent on rank.

This makes a big difference in how privatized housing management companies working on military installations, such as Michaels Military Housing, MMH, at Fort Huachuca, manage their annual budgets and continue to provide various amenities and benefits that the Service members and their families receive as a benefit to living in on-post housing.

At Fort Huachuca, housing is managed by Mountain Vista Communities, or MVC, a subsidiary of Michaels Military Housing. Upon assuming management of military housing in 2009, MMH projected Basic Allowance for Housing, BAH, rates to increase by 2 percent per year through the first five years of operation. In fact, the rates in 2015 are lower than they were in 2009, with an average 10-percent drop occurring with the release of the BAH for 2015.

Despite the relatively flat housing market locally, MMH has built more than 200 new homes, renovated 110 homes and opened a new community center for the families, demonstrating their commitment to the Soldiers and their families. It is still considered a privilege to live on a military installation.

Joseph Sikes, DOD's former director of housing and competitive sourcing, was recently quoted in a DOD online news article, saying, "When you're doing the budget and it gets cut, which is amplified now under sequestration, what goes first is the money for the infrastructure." But Mountain Vista Communities is doing everything possible to look long term and prevent degradation of property and providing a superior quality of living throughout the remainder of the 50-year contract as the family housing management company of Fort Huachuca.

At the start of 2015, DOD no longer included renters insurance as a component of BAH. However, MVC continues to provide liability insurance to the property to both benefit future residents here as well as ensure continued property quality.

If living on Fort Huachuca with MVC, your BAH pays for much more than just the rent for your home. Refuse services, free monthly pest control, 24/7 emergency maintenance services, free community events and exclusive access to the community center which features a game room, fitness center and private party room are just a few things BAH covers.

MVC does not charge any deposits for Soldiers prior to move-in. No pet or utility deposits are required, which makes the financial stress of moving much less complicated.

All houses on Fort Huachuca are protected by the Fort Huachuca Police and Fire Departments which also provide a full-time gated community protection force which drivers must pass in order to come on post.

BAH at Fort Huachuca also includes no-cost reasonable utilities. Water, which is metered but not billed, and sewage costs are not collected from residents. Natural gas and electric services are provided for free as long as the tenant stays within the average usage baseline for the month.

Nearly 80 percent of current residents stay within the baseline and are not sent a monthly bill while an average of 8 percent of residents actually receive a credit for being energy efficient. The remaining 12 percent of residents who do receive a utility bill are only required to pay when their amount due is more than $25.

MVC residents are also eligible for educational scholarships through The Michaels Organization Educational Foundation. In the past five years, 30 MVC residents have received more than $92,000 in funds averaging $3,000 per recipient. Applications for the 2015/2016 scholarship are currently being accepted.

MVC has vacancies right now and is providing rent and other incentives for moving in.

For more information on how far your BAH can take you, the scholarship, resident benefits, utility conservation tips, or how to apply for housing, visit www.mountainvistacommunities.com or call 520.515.9000.