THE BUBBLE HAS FINALLY BURST

[MARCIA KOSTERKA]

Now that some of the numbers have been made public in reference to the 2017 proposed budget, it has become glaringly apparent that the “money bubble” has finally burst.  To myself and others, we are not surprised.  For those whom are highly educated in the HOA laws and assembling budgets that bravely and publicly issued warnings and were dismissed like todays garbage, they have now been exonerated since some of the numbers for the 2017 budget have been released.  Here are some of the valid points that have caused the budget money crunch:

1.      During the ten years I have lived in SCA, there has not been one board who has accepted their fiduciary duty to the homeowners who live here as a primary duty.  The exception has been several minority board members who were consistently outvoted.

2.      A combination of self-aggrandizement, super inflated egos, coupled with ineptness, and lack of common sense, has led to the financial situation we are facing now.

3.      Some of the more pressing bungled issues are Liberty Center, underestimating what self-management would ultimately cost, the multiple restaurant fiascos and to a lesser extent, Anthem Council.

4.      Our reputation has been seriously damaged because of constant bad board decisions which have become compounded by their mantra of “never looking back” at the numerous mistakes made.

5.      Being sited on Channel 13’s HOA Hall of Shame has not helped our reputation throughout the Valley.

6.      Since the majority of homeowners do not exercise their right to vote in elections, some of the blame must be borne by the apathy they have consistently demonstrated.

What can be done about all this?  For one thing, every homeowner must demonstrate due diligence and take the time to question every candidate in the next election.  Ask them the hard questions and watch their body language as well as their answers before deciding to cast any vote.  Also ask them if they are willing to change the guidelines governing ratification of every budget.  That is a monumental task in itself.

Unless the majority of homeowners start to care about how this HOA has been and is being run, THINGS WILL NEVER CHANGE BUT ONLY GET WORSE.

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