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After a 3 1/2-hour meeting Monday, the TLPOA board of directors reconvened Tuesday night for another 2 1/2 hours to discuss the proposed budget.
One issue was clear after six hours and two meetings; the eight directors present cannot reach an agreement on a budget or the per-lot property owner assessment that helps pay for the budget. Director Larry Martinson has been absent.
At a special meeting March 1, the proposed assessment was estimated at either $936 or $861. The current assessment is $710.
Monday's deliberations ended with the proposed assessment for 2010-11 at $801.72, an increase of 13 percent.
At Tuesday's meeting, the assessment ranged between $793 and $848, based on increases of between 12 percent and 19 percent.
Interim General Manager Dan Johnston made cuts that included eliminating the printing of the newsletter, which would save $10,000. The newsletter will be available on the Web site and also by e-mail and in printed form to property owners who request it.
The original budget proposal included $7,000 to reprint and re-mail election information if needed. In the past, mistakes and errors resulted in the need to reprint and remail election materials to property owners at an additional cost of thousands of dollars. Johnston cut the extra money from the budget saying, "We'll have to get it right the first time."
Additional money was trimmed from numerous categories to drop the assessment number.
Directors expressed concern with making more cuts from security, marketing, professional fees (borough initiative), capital improvements and debt reduction.
They said they are trying to repair the deteriorating infrastructure, maintain amenities and pay down the debt while keeping in mind the state of the economy and the impact on property owners.
The TLPOA bylaws require that any increase or decrease of more than 10 percent in the assessment from the prior year requires a two-thirds vote of the directors, which means six of nine directors must agree. Any amount over $781 will require six votes.
After lengthy discussion, TLPOA board President Bill Reznor polled the directors and said it appears there are not enough votes to support a 10 percent increase.
Budget hearings for property owner comments will be held at 6 p.m. tonight and Wednesday, March 17, at 6 p.m. at the TLPOA building.
The board has scheduled a special meeting at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 20, to vote on the budget.
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Reported by A.J. Sylvis, C-E news editor. E-mail: asylvis@thecourierexpress.com.
