It's that time of year again, when, as a community, we have to talk about money. The Fairway Springs fiscal year runs from October 1st to September 30th each year and it is the Board's responsibility to produce a new budget for next year.
The annual budget board meeting is scheduled for 6.30pm on Wednesday 31st August, 2022 and will be hosted in the clubhouse. All homeowners are invited and encouraged to attend.
Why should you care?
The budget we produce matters to you and your household because it is the budget that determines the next years HOA Dues and any one time assessments.
What can you expect?
The Board's Treasurer will present to the board items affecting both the OPERATING BUDGET; that is the finances affecting the day to day, month to month, operations of the community management and also the RESERVE BUDGET; that is monies that have to be set aside for long term, bigger, repair, replace or invest projects.
Expect to see a review of last years budgeted numbers, by category, the actual spending across those categories, discussion about major exceptions (where a material increase or decrease occurred), discussions about desired outcomes requiring funding and eventually the announcement of the new HOA dues for the 2023 Fiscal year. Once presented, the Board will vote on whether to accept the new budget, or not.
What if you don't like what you hear?
It's not impossible that some of you will be disappointed, maybe even "up-in-arms" about what you see and hear during the meeting. Discussing money always has the ability to charge emotions. Some will be delighted, or OK. Some will be resigned or simply not care. Whichever camp you sit in, there is only one way to change it in the future and that is for you to get involved.
Whether that involvement is rallying neighbors, writing letters (emails), building arguments and counter-arguments, attending and speaking up at meetings or running for a board position you should get involved. We welcome involvement and engagement from our community.
In fact, we'd prefer it. A disengaged, unengaged and apathetic community could mean the end of our HOA, at which point we fall into disrepair, property prices drop, quality of life declines, crime and neighborhood hostilities increase and we become just another "bring your boats and RV's" neighborhood, with all that that entails.
A reminder:
This is OUR community. Our community is a Deed Restricted community that exists to keep to preserve home values by ensuring the community remains in good shape. Performing these tasks costs money: Our money. Our Board has been tasked with the responsibilities and obligations of using our money optimally.
Our Board consists of volunteers from within our community. They are your neighbors: They shop where you shop, send their kids to your kid's schools, eat and drink where you do and drive where you drive. They live in our community and want what you want for it. That is for it to be a clean, tidy, safe community where life can be enjoyed, property values are protected and where neighbors greet neighbors warmly and friendships can flourish.
Call for Volunteers
If you would like to volunteer for any of the Board's committees, or become more actively involved in making our neighborhood a better place, please don't hesitate to reach out to anyone on the board or even to our management company and let us know.