Heritage Harbour CDD tackles budget

HERITAGE HARBOUR — Supervisors on the Heritage Harbour South Community Development District board have taken a preliminary look at budget numbers associated with the district’s storm water management system and today will beginning making cuts to its proposed programs.

“Let’s not fool ourselves,” Supervisor Joseph Jaudon said. “We cannot afford this budget in its present form.”

Alarmed and angered by a proposed 144% increase in overall CDD assessments, more than 50 residents of Heritage Harbour turned out May 26 for the district’s first budget workshop on its proposed storm water management system programs.

Residents questioned the layers of management being used by the CDD as well as line item expenses for storm water maintenance such as the amount of lake and wetland maintenance performed, aquatic plantings, signage around wetlands and monies allotted for lake bank wash out repairs, among other items.

Supervisors spent much of the four-and-one-half hour meeting in open discussions with residents about what services are necessary, what can be cut and residents’ expectations.

“The process needs some work,” resident Edward Murphy said after the meeting. “They really need to get a recommended budget from staff. The good news is (supervisors are) listening. I completely agree (they have to go back to the beginning).”

Supervisors again will focus on the storm water management section of the budget during their June 2 meeting, at which time they formally will cut or restructure that portion of the budget. They also will revisit budget numbers for the legislative line items.

“There’s a lot of remedial work to be done,” resident Tom Tullio said. “I think (it’s) very helpful to have this dialogue.”

Prior to the meeting, the Stoneybrook Homeowners Association’s Finance Committee provided supervisors with recommendations for potential budget cuts that would reduce the storm water management budget from about $445,700 to $234,500. Suggestions included the elimination of $22,000 for surveying services, a reduction in hours for services provided by the district’s contractors and the elimination of proposed wetland signage, among other items.

Supervisors said they were taking those recommendations under consideration, in addition to comments from residents at the meeting.

Chairman Lee Bettes noted the proposed budget includes all suggestions given throughout the year by residents and supervisors and could not be discussed by board members outside public meetings. The budget process is meant to take a “Cadillac” of services and cut it back so it is more affordable for homeowners, he said.

An increase in storm water maintenance, however, is important for moving forward, as under-cutting related services result in higher costs long-term. Additionally, as a government agency, the CDD is required to maintain its storm water system to certain state requirements, supervisors said.

Budget workshops will continue through June.

For more information or to view budget documents, visit www.heritageharbourcommunity.com.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].