(Jan. 28, 2016) The threat of severe winter weather delayed the public release of a draft of the 2017 fiscal-year budget, originally scheduled for last Saturday, according to OPA Board President Pat Renaud.
General Manager Bob Thompson was to present the proposed budget during a public hearing at the community center. Now, that meeting will be held Jan. 30.
“We thought the weather was going to come, and we weren’t ready. This is the budget, but it’s not the budget, because we haven’t really decided and haven’t voted on many issues. There are a lot of things hanging,” Renaud said.
Two weeks ago, the Ocean Pines Budget and Finance Committee reviewed the draft during a series of public meetings. The directors also met over a period of several days last week to discuss potential changes.
“I’m not sure when [the budget] is going to be completed, but we’re continuing to move along,” Renaud said. “I thought the budget hearings went pretty well. We didn’t dwell too much on any one subject, and there wasn’t much fighting going on, which I thought was good.”
Following the next board meeting, scheduled for today, Thursday, at 9 a.m. in the community center, the directors will hold a special meeting at 2 p.m. to discuss some of those issues.
The most recent draft of the budget, available to the public in a binder inside the administration building, carries a $22 increase in the basic annual assessment. That number will almost certainly change before the final vote on the budget, due in February, occurs. By how much – up or down – is anyone’s guess.
Last week, former Director Marty Clarke emailed the board members a proposal that would lower assessments $138, in part, by discontinuing the “legacy” reserves altogether.
In a phone interview on Friday, Director Dave Stevens said he favored a more “phased” approach to trimming the amount the association contributes to reserves.
“I got a question from Pat [during the board budget meetings], who said, ‘why wouldn’t you say eliminate it all the way,’ and basically I said, ‘because I’m chicken,’” Stevens said. “I also don’t believe doing things in big chunks. People don’t like that.
“Can I give a rational financial reason for that? No, but on the other hand, nobody can give a reason that we should continue [reserves] as is. I wouldn’t cut it half or anything, but a significant reduction and a lowering of the assessments as a result [could happen].”
Stevens went on to call the recently released capital facilities planning document, produced by Thompson, a “rehash” of old proposals and part of a “personal agenda.” That plan outlined nearly $40 million in capital projects spread out over a 10-year period.
“I don’t believe we should continue to fund the reserves on that basis,” Stevens said. “I’ll just say so, and we’ll see how many people vote for it. Maybe it’ll even pass – wouldn’t that be a wonderful thing?”
General Manager Bob Thompson was to present the proposed budget during a public hearing at the community center. Now, that meeting will be held Jan. 30.
“We thought the weather was going to come, and we weren’t ready. This is the budget, but it’s not the budget, because we haven’t really decided and haven’t voted on many issues. There are a lot of things hanging,” Renaud said.
Two weeks ago, the Ocean Pines Budget and Finance Committee reviewed the draft during a series of public meetings. The directors also met over a period of several days last week to discuss potential changes.
“I’m not sure when [the budget] is going to be completed, but we’re continuing to move along,” Renaud said. “I thought the budget hearings went pretty well. We didn’t dwell too much on any one subject, and there wasn’t much fighting going on, which I thought was good.”
Following the next board meeting, scheduled for today, Thursday, at 9 a.m. in the community center, the directors will hold a special meeting at 2 p.m. to discuss some of those issues.
The most recent draft of the budget, available to the public in a binder inside the administration building, carries a $22 increase in the basic annual assessment. That number will almost certainly change before the final vote on the budget, due in February, occurs. By how much – up or down – is anyone’s guess.
Last week, former Director Marty Clarke emailed the board members a proposal that would lower assessments $138, in part, by discontinuing the “legacy” reserves altogether.
In a phone interview on Friday, Director Dave Stevens said he favored a more “phased” approach to trimming the amount the association contributes to reserves.
“I got a question from Pat [during the board budget meetings], who said, ‘why wouldn’t you say eliminate it all the way,’ and basically I said, ‘because I’m chicken,’” Stevens said. “I also don’t believe doing things in big chunks. People don’t like that.
“Can I give a rational financial reason for that? No, but on the other hand, nobody can give a reason that we should continue [reserves] as is. I wouldn’t cut it half or anything, but a significant reduction and a lowering of the assessments as a result [could happen].”
Stevens went on to call the recently released capital facilities planning document, produced by Thompson, a “rehash” of old proposals and part of a “personal agenda.” That plan outlined nearly $40 million in capital projects spread out over a 10-year period.
“I don’t believe we should continue to fund the reserves on that basis,” Stevens said. “I’ll just say so, and we’ll see how many people vote for it. Maybe it’ll even pass – wouldn’t that be a wonderful thing?”