BELLA VISTA -- A few percentage points decided the assessment election on Tuesday night. Although there were more votes in favor than against, the votes in favor didn't reach the 51% required by the governing documents.
The proposed assessment increase failed.
Tom Throne, chairman of the Election Committee introduced Sukey Hildebrandt who was representing The Inspector of Elections, the company that ran the election.
Quorum was met, she explained, with 52.9% of the possible votes cast.
Of the 18,521 votes cast, 9,192 or 50% were in favor, she reported. Some 9,165 or 49.9% were opposed. There were also 144 voters who cast a ballot but abstained.
There was one question on the ballot -- an increase in the monthly assessment. For improved properties the proposed increase was $11 a month or $132 a year. The assessment now is $24 a month. For unimproved properties the proposal was $2 a month, up from $16.
A new user fee schedule was to be put into place with the new assessment reducing or eliminating fees at many amenities.
"We are extremely disappointed that the 2020 plan was not approved tonight. So we're back to the drawing board tomorrow," Board Chairwoman Ruth Hatcher said. "We will be coming back to the property owners with another assessment increase proposal in 2020. We have no choice."
NW News on 11/20/2019