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3rd
Feb 2021

Our Budget

 
Some of our residents seem to be confused by the budget that was printed in the paper.  Most of the confusion arose from the 10% increase in salaries.  Gossip and incorrect rumors flew all over Facebook.  Let me try to set the record straight.
 
We have a certified accountant who audits our books yearly.  Based on that audit he tells us what we need to be prepared for in the following year.  Sometimes we are in good shape, and the current income will cover the proposed expenditures.  This year (2021) our income would not cover the proposed expenditures.
 
Most of the problems came about because of the Covid 19 pandemic.  If the governor permits us to open the pools and the clubhouses again, we will need additional personnel to maintain safe and sanitized places for us to be.  That is where the 10% increase in salary comes in. This is so we will have the funds to hire new people as we need them.  Our current employees received a 1.03% salary increase this year, just like social security recipients received.  The Board of Directors are all volunteers and as such, receive no salary.  We also will need to purchase sanitizing equipment and supplies.  These are costly.
 
Another potential problem is the trees in the common areas of this community.  Mostly due to weather issues, we were faced (in 2020) with so many dead and falling trees that it was much more than had been budgeted for.  We applied monies from things we didn’t use, like the pools, to cover the mounting cost of taking down these trees.  Even that wasn’t enough.  Sometimes it was just large limbs that were hanging over people’s houses and creating a dangerous situation.  We did our best to address every tree issue that came to the office.  
 
This community was built almost 50 years ago.  Hovnanian, who built this community, planted trees in common areas that have a life expectancy of 40 years.  These trees are dying now, and we have to deal with it.  Unfortunately we ran over budget.  We had to compensate for that in the 2021 budget.
 
We are not, as some would have you believe, playing fast and loose with the funds of Holiday City at Berkeley.  We have to be fiscally responsible, and we are.
 
Another thing we are facing is the completion of clubhouse 2.  Our insurance is paying 100% of the DEPRECIATED value of the items lost.  We will most definitely incur expenses. As shareowners it is our responsibility to share in the expense involved in maintaining this community.  
 
We wish you health and happiness in 2021.
 
Barbara Egner