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6/28/2023 29 Comments

The Boards Upcoming Budget Presentation

On this Friday, June 30th at 1:30pm, the HOA board’s treasurer will be presenting the second discussion on the upcoming 2023/2024 HOA budget. This may be the last chance that homeowners can ask questions and understand how our dues are being spent.

Here is what we know from the first presentation:

Only a portion of the budget information was presented at the the last board meeting and the estimated increases in HOA dues was over $60/month.
That estimate did not include the Country Club, most contracts for services and any increase for the reserves.
Management Trust and the finance committee was still working on the budget proposal.

Here is what we DO NOT know at this point:

What will be the final increase in dues to fund the proposed budget (60/month +????)?
How much money will we be paying to fund the coming years “Special projects”?
What plans are in place to control and reduce costs?
Will any of the annual contracts be put out for bid (Management Trust, O’Connell, etc.)?

Will there be Golf fee increases proportional to HOA dues increases?
Will any cost savings be generated by reduction in services( not heating/closing pools, deferring maintenance, etc.)?
Will there be full budget transparency before the Board approves next year’s budget and the HOA Fee increase?

To find out more, please attend the Board meeting in person at the HOA conference room or on Zoom.

Please feel free to leave any comments.

Below is the Zoom information:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85162442958?pwd=YXErcTVWcmRzUE5lRGI2YkdUYTVldz09

Meeting ID: 851 6244 2958
Passcode: 883634

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29 Comments

6/6/2023 54 Comments

Doing it right – Our $70,000 Replacement Media System

The current media system has had issues when conducting meetings inside the Masters Lounge. A company that only sells high end media systems to large organizations was brought in to determine why our existing system was having issues and recommend a solution.

They determined that the golf cart charging system was interfering with the current system. Their recommendation was a complete replacement of the existing system with their high end hardware. The board took the vendors information at face value and did not bring in any additional vendors to look at the problem and make recommendations.

Our Board President, Russ Holowachuk , just sent all home owners an email defending the Boards decision to spend up to $70,000 on their selected media system because we need to “Do It Right” the first time.

This brings up the following questions:

Why did the board only bring in one vendor into the Master’s Lounge to determine what solutions and equipment were available to solve our communications issues?
Did the Board believe that ‘Doing it Right” mean that we ignore our bylaws and skip putting the replacement system out for bid.
Does “Doing It Right” mean that we let the vendor tell us what equipment we need to purchase without providing them with a set of requirements?

Does “Doing It Right” mean that the homeowners are demanding an immediate media solution and cost should not be considered?

Does “Doing It Right mean that we buy a system that is so complex that staff training and vendor support will be required in order to use the system?

54 Comments

Charter

This blog is designed as a means to provide transparency and informative access to the policies and protocols of the Desert Princess Palm Springs Homeowners Association, the governance of the HOA Board of Directors and the management of the community’s assets by The Management Trust. The expressed intent is to establish a neighborhood hub for trusted connections and the exchange of helpful information, goods, and services; it is hoped that homeowners will use it to build a stronger and safer Desert Princess Palm Springs.

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YOUR CART

The Boards Upcoming Budget Presentation

Doing it right – Our $70,000 Replacement Media System

Charter

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