There will probably be a vote today on changing the budget year to begin later on so as to allow snowbirds to vote on it. That will probably work out ok, as long as we are reassured - and sure- that changing it at present will not affect or increase our present $1.3 million dollar shortfall. If that is so, then fine. But we really need to be sure. However, the real issue is the budget itself.
What do we make of our budget? At present, it is drawn up in almost secret conditions and when sheets are handed out and questions asked, we get, well, I am really not sure of the figure, or well we can shift this or that - and that is not sound finances. One does not buy a house unless one is sure that the mortgage, taxes, utilities are affordable within their income revenue and that there will be a sufficient cushion for emergencies. But I believe we are being asked to ignore that sound financial planning and vote for a budget that will just about kill us, take us further down the road to financial perdition.
We already have a shortfall. That is a major fact and twist it any which way you want - it is there. We need to make it up somehow over a reasonable amount of time even as we plan to raise more money for appropriate cushions of reserve and to somehow plan for financing of the paving job that will be on us sooner than later. Three years after we do a project here in the Village, it seems that we redo it again. Just take a look at the residents' pool at the Clubhouse. And just look at the roads and the perimeter walkway. We have got to stop this wasteful spending, poor choice of vendors and contractors and make sure we do our proper homework, due diligence, before we sign on the dotted line. That includes appropriately knowledgeable attorneys, performance bonds, properly signed contracts and properly worded contracts, not one page and signed on a blank page!
One of the major issues that is representative of this foolish and dangerous financial let's just spend as we wish, is the issue of Village wide Wi Fi. For one, we do not need it. That is right - we do not need it. Those who want Wi Fi already have it or if they refuse to pay for their units to have it, can go to the WPRF pools and the Clubhouse - which many do. Many also piggyback on the Wi Fi of others. There are also many people in the Village who do not have Wi Fi and do not want Wi Fi for whatever reason and they and their desires must be respected too. They do not wish to pay for any additional costs and for some it is a question of needing those dollars for food and maintenance.
Despite David Israel's lieing words, no one is anti Wi Fi. All these people - and there are many - just look at the OPT OUT movement that has been rolling thru the Village - HAVE Wi Fi - yes, Your Ninnieness - have Wi Fi - and use it BUT see the foolishness of Village wide being installed now. In addition to that written above, WE DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL WHEREWITHAL AT PRESENT to do so. We also cannot afford to add another $2 to the UCO fees in addition to the other money already added on as well as the additional raise of WPRF fees and the association fees. It turns out to be quite a hefty increase (see yesterday's post) and nobody, yes, nobody, really knows how many millions will need to be spent for a Village program - nor if it will even work properly!
The contract proposals are secret, known only to the holy few and the proposed contractor is the same DSL that we had to turn away from last time, but are we smart? No! We go right back to them. Something stinks here, and reeks to the high heavens. I do not know about the rest of you, but my income is limited and has its demands and I am not interested in being placed on the hook for a million dollar plus fiasco and who knows how high it will go and for what inferior program. There are so many questions about this whole program that I need another posting to cover them.
What I am saying, advocating here, is care on voting for budget year change and then vote NO NO NO for an additional Wi Fi fee and the whole roll out. Go for OPT OUT and stay status quo or wire up your building. Vote YES on transferring the current amassed Wi Fi exploratory funds over to the general funds for the shortfall.Vote YES YES YES for return of term limits. Vote for a financially stable Village. Property values do not rise if there is a faulty and inferior Wi Fi'ed Village and a Village that is saddled with debts. Think about it. Open your minds and think freely and clearly. This nonsense of making up names for a group of people, as if there were an organized group, and insisting that there is only a small group of people who have common sense needs to stop. There are many and even if there were one, just one, that would still be a voice calling out in the wilderness and one must heed that voice.
See you at the assembly.
To all those who observe Yom Kippur, I wish you all an easy fast, prayers that will be heard up above, and a happy, healthy, prosperous and most of all, peaceful year to come.
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