Rich, I hear you. Let's take it one step at a time. We are in for a change no doubt. Those that don't see it or don't get it, will. It's well past time to start knocking on doors and finding some motivated residents who want to meet at one another's houses and sit down break this budget down and form some committees of people to start working up solutions. We all know it's easy just to let things ride along as they are so long as we don't have to put our time into it. But, I'm not one to sit back and do that myself. We need to find others like you and me to work this through.
I have added a page that shows the budget and comparisons between 2008 and 2009. It clearly shows the differences. Our assessment went up $20 a year. If you look at the budget comparison you see decreases in some areas and increases in others of course. What I think needs to be done is to break down each one of these categories and figure out why they are at a cost that they are and if there is any way the get it lowered.
One thing that stands out is the Landscaping Maintenance. It looks high to me but I have nothing to compare it to. I would like to get some other estimates. This is only one area that needs looked into.
Okay, so when do you want to go knocking on some doors? Let's pick a night and do it. I can get a list of residents from the county web site and we can check the list off as we go. What do you think?