I respect your personal opinion as well as everyone of our member's opinions as well. I also have my own opinion but as a elected Director, I have a responsibility to try my best to represent the opinion of over 8,000 lot owners here in the Pines. Sure, I approved items in the budget that I felt provided maintaining our infrastructure, safety, and those that help make our community more attractive, in addition to expending funds on capital improvements  that will add value and enjoyment to our membership but I certainly did not agree with everything that was approved.  As you well know, it is the MAJORITY of the Board that approves each line item that is to be included in the budget. Each Director has his/her own opinion. Some may, or may not, be willing to compromise to benefit the whole. During the last Budget meeting on 02/19/16, two final proposals were offered: 

1) Add all the majority agreed upon line items and keep the reserves fully funded proposed by  Mr. Cordwell

2) Defund the "Legacy Reserve" by $50.00 which was proposed by Mr. Stevens     

Fully aware of the make-up of the current Board of Directors, I was fearful that the first proposal would be passed. I then called for a compromise proposal. Ms. Jacobs was reluctant to agree but when I queried Mr. Renaud, and he agreed, I nearly fell off my chair, knowing there was  potential for the passage of a compromise agreement.  Mr. Terry, on speakerphone, then offered the suggestion that the compromise be a zero increase in the base assessment. (This we found out, days later, was to be a $28.00 reduction in Legacy Reserve, a little more than half from the original $50.00  Mr. Stevens had suggested) When the straw vote was taken, Cordwell, Terry and Jacobs voted for the increase. Stevens, Collins, Renaud, Herrick, and Terry voted for the compromise. (Terry inexplicitly voted for both proposals) Due to the unsettlement in the future of the GM's Capital Facilities Improvement Plan it was difficult to additionally defund the "Legacy Fund" at this time. After additional information is gleaned from the Reserve Study and some feedback is provided by the membership from the Beacon Study, future Boards may be better equipped to determine what that funding should be.

The bottom line is, due to the make-up of the members on this years Board, I personally believe a zero increase in the base assessment for this fiscal year was a reasonable compromise and the best that could be obtained at this time.

Tom Herrick