Office Hours Open For Discussion of 2024 Budget

The strong peso and OOMSAPAS water rate increases have blown a hole in our 2023 budget. See "Stronger Peso busts budgets expressed in USD."

It also has major implications for 2024.  If we simply buy the same goods and services again next year (including contribution to Reserves) and assume a 17:1 exchange rate and 5% inflation, the USD invoice for HOA dues will increase by over 25%.

The Vigilance Committees and the HOA Board met on July 28 for over two and half hours to look at these 2024 challenges.  We looked at changing some of our service levels to save money, but, in the end, decided not to do anything radical.

That said, in an effort to save money, we will join with some landscaping experts to review our irrigation schedule and the amounts of water used.  Futher, we are trying to assemble a committee of owners who are construction professionals to review the timing of some of the major preventative maintenance projects.  But Insurance, Security, Cleaning, Pools, Maintenance and Landscape services will not be radically changed.

Mr. Willis did want to make some "Office Hours" available for any interested Owners.  He is happy to share any details of the budget and field any suggestions Owners may have.  To that end, he's scheduling two "office hours" on Wednesday, August 23rd, --- one in the morning at 11:00 AM (PDT), the at 6:30 PM (PDT)  in the evening.  Any owner can simply "drop in" to an open Zoom meeting where Mr. Willis (and perhaps others) will be meeting.