The Budget is Coming! The Budget is Coming!
Mark your calendar for our Open Budget Meeting on October 13, at 7:00 PM at the Community Center for the Townhome 1 Association. On this night, the Board will go over their proposed budget for 2012.
As a Board, we have talked, argued and sometimes even fought over what next year's budget should look like. We have run out of ideas on where, what, and how we can trim next year's budget to the bone and still maintain a lifestyle that our Homeowners want. You will be receiving a review of the 2012 budget and the proposed raise in Homeowner's fees. Yes, I used the ugly and revolting word "raise" when I am talking 2012 Homeowner's fees. The proposed budget will have a simple comparison of last year's actual expenditure and next years proposed expenditure. We don't have much wiggle room. We have to have water, landscaping, snow removal, insurance, maintenance, repairs, and management to have a safe, pleasant and comfortable environment in which to live. We want our homes to be well maintained and our yards to be green and trimmed. But to what extent is different for each Homeowner. This is where you come in.
Before the board approves the final budget, we would like to find out where you want your money spent. Do you want the lowest costs per unit, or do you want more weeding, trimming, quicker replacement of dead shrubs, and a planting of annual flowers in the spring. Would you like your 1" of snow plowed by 8:00 in the morning or do you want fees to be cut to the bone. Are you willing and able to spend some time monitoring your own property for leaks, clogged drains, damaged down spouts, or do you want a maintenance man to walk the property for you and fix what needs to be repaired. Do you want your outside paint replaced as soon as possible so your property always looks fresh or do you want to wait until there is a conspicuous need for paint before we spend the money.
Several things need to be addressed at our open budget meeting and it is here that you will be heard. The packet you get in the mail before the meeting has all of the basic information you will need to think about. If you want more detail or explanations before the meeting, call Melissa at the HOA.
There will also be door prizes to some lucky people in attendance and light refreshments. Baby sitting services are available at the Center. Call for reservations. See you there!
I am a homeowner of a daybreak town home. I was unaware of some of the things you mentioned above happening. I didn't realize that someone walked around making sure there were no problems with my property. But what I do know, is that we have been missing a shrub that they took out over 2 years ago. RARELY is our snow removed before 8 am. We have had paint issues for YEARS, with a promise to take care of it, and only now are they even starting to get bids. I never saw people out weeding (besides the other homeowners). For me the association has not proven they deserve any type of raise especially when so many others are struggling financially and just trying to make their HOA payment and feed a family. Unfortunately I will not be able to make the meeting, so I thought I'd share my 2 cents here.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mindee and Jerry for your comments. They echo exactly our own experience with our HOA and the comments I have heard from other TH1 owners.
ReplyDeleteOther than grass cutting and slow to arrive snow removal, maintenance of any sort has not happened.
I would like to invite any TH1 resident who reads this post to email me about what we can do to protect our investments and curb escalating fees.
I will be attending the budget meeting and would like to be able to share your comments and your experiences with out HOA.
golfdesign@gmail.com