BELLA VISTA — After struggling to find a proposal to raise assessments members will accept, the Property Owners Association board presented a two-part plan at a forum with members Tuesday night.
Members will have to vote in favor of any assessment increase before it can be implemented.
“It’s a no brainer for people who play golf more than once a month,” said Randall Gnant, a board member, after outlining the “premier plan.” The proposal would allow members to voluntarily raise their monthly assessment but avoid the fees they now pay for amenity use including golf. The premier plan would be $60 a month assessment and would include a mechanism for cost of living increases every three years.
However, members could opt out of the premier plan and continue to pay a per-use fee for amenities. The basic plan would still raise the monthly assessments to $20 for unimproved lots and $30 for improved lots. It also includes a possible cost of living increase every three years. Currently, assessments are $16 for unimproved lots and $24 for improved lots.
According to the proposal, every time a property is transferred to a new owner, it would automatically become part of the premier plan. Eventually all property owners would pay the same $60 per lot assessment.
The plan would help market Bella Vista regionally, said Ed Morgan, board chairman. There are 9,000 property owners who live outside Bella Vista, but within an easy drive, he said. Many of those owners play golf. The $60 monthly assessment for unlimited golf would be easy to sell, he said.
Charlie Teal, a board member, said the declaration that established the association prevents the organization from selling memberships without property. People in the area who want to be a member have to buy a lot, he said.
Several audience members wanted to see the numbers. Gnant, who presented the 10-year baseline review that highlighted project financial shortfalls, invited them to meet and look at his spreadsheets.
“I’ll bury you in numbers, spreadsheets and analysis,” he said. He explained the volume of information made it impossible to put on the association website, although the 10-year baseline review has been on the site for months.
When a member asked what would happen if an increase was not approved by the membership, Teal answered simply “We’re sunk.”
The baseline review projects a budget deficit as early as 2014.