2008 Broadlands HOA Budget

Hi folks-
It's that time of year again and we're starting to work on the budget for next year. I'm guessing that there will be a $2-$4 increase in the monthly HOA fee for our current programs and services. Reasons include:
1) More Common Area turned over from Van Metre to the HOA.
2) Increased costs for landscaping contract (a reasonable 3%).
3) Costs to maintain/repair lighting far greater than estimated.
4) Tree maintenance costs significantly greater than expected.
5) Snow removal costs higher than expected.

Here are a few other items that would cause an increase that I would like feedback from residents on:

1) Private Security. We have been getting estimates from companies. One proposal with a company we currently use would run about $60,000. This would provide part-time coverage throughout the year and an additional full-time person for coverage during the summer months.
This would equate to about a $2/month increase.

2) Watering of Common Areas and adding additional irrigation.
Van Metre has approached the HOA with the possibility of adding additional irrigation lines along Claiborne from Waxpool To Broadlands Blvd. and along Broadlands Blvd from Claiborne to Belmont Ridge. This is in addition to the current irrigation along Claiborne from Waxpool to Croson which Van Metre currently pays for but will be turning over to the HOA.
Van Metre would pay for the cost of installing the system and it would all be on wells. I'm guessing that the annual maintenance costs would result in a $2-$3/month increase.

Let the Board know what you think.

 

Cliff -

With the cost of hiring a security firm, how does that compair to the $ the HOA has already spent repairing various damage/vandalism in our community?

For the courtyard homes - I know that we have already discontinued some services to maintain a reasonable year over year increase is the 3% landscaping increase already factored in or is the 3% for the community property?

Just in case the lights in SW and Overland Park are ever lite - what type of impact will that have on the HOA utility expenses?

 

What about planting more drought resistant and native vegetation? We have a naturalist on staff - perhaps they can direct this. I'm not necessarily opposed to this cost but it does seem like they do excessive watering of the common areas.

 

I'm am also curious about Erika's question regarding the lights.

I'm going to have a hard time paying for a utility that is not working and there are no plans/reasonable timeframe of the lights turning on.

 

2) Watering of Common Areas and adding additional irrigation.
Van Metre has approached the HOA with the possibility of adding additional irrigation lines along Claiborne from Waxpool To Broadlands Blvd. and along Broadlands Blvd from Claiborne to Belmont Ridge. This is in addition to the current irrigation along Claiborne from Waxpool to Croson which Van Metre currently pays for but will be turning over to the HOA. Van Metre would pay for the cost of installing the system and it would all be on wells. I'm guessing that the annual maintenance costs would result in a $2-$3/month increase."

I would rather pay an additional $2-3/month to make sure the common areas near our houses are maintained vs. the ones on Claiborne. Its pretty out there on claiborne, but when you get back into the actual housing areas, especially down Village, Fieldthorn, Sunderleigh and surrounding areas... it is an absolute mess and a disgrace.

I know there has been a water shortage and no rain this year, so I'll accept that as part of the problem. But this problem was around last year as well. I've sent numerous emails to the Van Meter board and our HOA members about this over the past 12 months.

I'd like to see some money spent on getting these areas up to par and maintained so that those of us that pay the same HOA fees as everyone else can go outside their house and feel like they aren't being treated as second rate.

 

There are no plans to put additional areas on a watering schedule. The only reason we are considering this is that Van Metre will pay for the installation and the wells. They have only offered Claiborne and Broadlands Blvd.
We are not yet paying for any of the lights that are not yet functional. They will not be turned over to the HOA until they are operational. Obviously, the HOA's utility expenses will increase when the lights are being maintained by the HOA.
We will include expected expenses in next year's budget based on the assumption the lights will be turned over to the HOA.

 

How does the cost increase for the irrigation system compare to the cost of the water truck that drives up and down the road?

 

"Obviously, the HOA's utility expenses will increase when the lights are being maintained by the HOA. "

True some of the costs are going up ... however, isn't there a bigger pool of homeowners paying HOA dues ... more and more houses are being sold and people are moving into SW ...

Just a thought ? ( Hoping for a steady HOA fee instead of ever increasing fee ) Not saying Broadland HOA fee has been going up or anything ...

 

Yes, there are more homes (but not as many as had been projected due to the slow down in sales) added to Broadlands, but over the last year and a half most of the lights had been turned over to the HOA. This was a big expense added at once.

 

Cliff - a4guy presents a valid point. There are many "common/hoa" areas that look ratty in Broadlands - would the $2-3 increase address cleaning up, resodding, replanting (of dead VM installed tree ) etc of the common areas?

 

If we tried to address all the Common Areas throughout Broadlands, it would be astronomically expensive. So let's say we did it this fall. And the drought continues. And it all dies. Then we have to do it all again.......
Welcome to Groundhog day.
Unless of course we spend hundreds of thousands on watering trucks every year.

 

Goes back to my original post... we should be looking to install drought resistant plants.

 

There is no such thing as a drought resistant plant when you have a situation like we are facing now. With normal rainfall well below 14", any new plant, and many established plants, are in serious stress and decline.
Several of the larger trees around Broadlands that have been in the ground for longer than 5 years are stressed, and the damage will likely become evident in the years to come. Bottom line is - ALL trees and shrubs need water to survive. When that supply is taken away completely, even the toughest plant begins to fail.
Native plants are no different. The plants and trees that were installed around Broadlands are more than suitable for the environment, when we are experiencing typical conditions. This area has not had a drought this bad in over 10 years. So, this is not our typical conditions.
We just have to ride it out, and keep watching the sky for rain.

 

Just throwing out ideas on ways to save the additional $2/3 per month...

However, as I said earlier, I am not necessarily opposed to this as VM will pick up the cost of installing the irrigation lines.

 

I am not sure that I even fully understand the reason this is even a question. Because that would imply that we actually have a choice. What happens if we say no to the HOA accepting for care and maintenance (the irrigation part that is to be added). Could Van Metre not install it anyway? I am surprised that it is really a question.

But perhaps they can not even add something like this without written agreement? Just curious how this kind of "request" really applies.

 

I don't believe it is Van Metre's intend to force this issue on the HOA. If the resident members do not support it, I do not believe they will go to the expense of installing the system.

 

Just reviewed the first draft budget. It includes cost for the security proposal, but not for the additional irrigation:

Single Family Fee: $68.75/mo
Single Family-Private Street: $82.75/mo
Townhouse: $84.50
Courtyard Homes: $119.75

It will have to come down some because the increase in Common Area expenses is capped at no more than 10%/year.

 

Wow...$84.50 is an increase of $9/month over our current townhouse fee. Isn't that about 11%? That's a bit more than suggested in the first post.

I confess I'm concerned.