We hope many of you will attend the March 9 board meeting to discuss the proposed budget and other agenda items (5:30 p.m., South Bay Classroom). We recognize the increase is substantial ($135/year or 11.25/month) and understand there will be questions and suggestions on where we might find savings. Please take the time to review the worksheet and notes, then join us for an open discussion.
If you’ve read the notes on the worksheet, you’ve seen the reasons for the potential increase:
(1) stopping the depletion of reserve funds by using interest for operational expenses;
(2) restarting reserve contributions at the rate recommended by our professional reserve study;
(3) covering rapidly rising insurance rates;
(4) paying a professional bookkeeper; and
(5) covering moderate increases in other areas (e.g., while it is our largest expense, our landscaping contract has increased at the lowest rate, an average 2% per year).
So, is the proposed budget increase set in stone? No.
Please join us for a discussion of our options.
(1) Should we (may we) keep using interest from the reserve fund for operational expenses?
(2) Should we contribute less to the reserve fund than the reserve study professionals recommended?
(3) Should we reduce our insurance coverage (we increased it a few years ago)?
(4) Can we do without a paid bookkeeper? (we were blessed with a volunteer for many years, perhaps one of you will you take this on as a long term commitment);
(5) Are there other areas where we can cut services and consequently expenses?
Please join us at the meeting. This is your opportunity to ask questions and share your thoughts on the budget and other matters on the agenda. Please bring a copy of the worksheet with you.