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Budget Discussion Editorial
​By  
Joan Testa, VHA North VP
 
To my friends in District #1… this is an editorial info piece from me for you.
 
Budgets and price increases…two subjects I hate, especially when having been self employed, my only incoming revenue is Social Security and that sure has not increased.  This morning I sat alone at a District headquarters meeting of the supervisors from District 1 to learn about the proposed 2017-2018 budget and how it will affect me and my neighbors. 
 
Here’s what I learned at this meeting and I wish more residents were there to hear what I did because now I have a much better understanding of what it takes to run District 1. I am pretty darn glad we elected the supervisors we did, and Janet Tutt hired the staff that she hired because they do their homework.  They keep our costs down and plan ahead so that in a couple of years, we won’t get rocked by huge maintenance fees increases - these people watched spending and set up reserves. 
 
Things to think about:
 
There has not been a maintenance fee increase since a 10% increase in the 2012-2013 budget. So 0 increase in years 2013-2014, 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017…  I’d say that’s pretty darn good.  The maintenance assessment for my house in Village of Rio Ranchero was $328.96 in 2001-2002 and $328.77 in 2016-2017. I wish all my bills/costs only went up 19 cents in 15 years!  
 
There has been an outcry for preserves maintenance, so $100,000 is still budgeted for this.
 
Landscaping is a huge chunk of the budget and the contracts are typically for 5 years, with a 3 year base and two one year renewals.  Those contracts will be coming up for overall renewal soon and the prices are sure to go up. 
 
Villa road maintenance (mill/overlay) is really costly.  We have 14 villa communities in District #1 with maintenance costs ranging from $43,000 to $131,000 each,  spread out over multiple budget years.  Some years the costs easily cross $200,000.
 
District #1 walls and entry painting is done every five years and fences are replaced every 15 years.  All this adds up. 
 
I don’t know what the final budget proposal will be and how much our District #1 Maintenance fees will increase (if any) but at least now I understand what and why.  My middle name is “cheap” but this is one case where I won’t be complaining even if there needs to be an increase - I saw how diligent and cautious the budget authors & supervisors were and I am amazed that they can run this community with only a 19 cent increase to me in 15 years.    Wish they could run my home budget!

Joan

Joan Testa, VHA North VP
cdsjoan@sbcglobal.net
(817) 247-9677
Rest of My Life - Best of My Life

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