Heritage Harbour CDD begins budget cuts

HERITAGE HARBOUR — Members of the Heritage Harbour South Community Development District still have serious budget crunching ahead, but the board already has launched its process with more than $130,000 in cuts.

CDD board members on May 9 approved a roughly $1.2 budget for Fiscal Year 2012, with the presumption numbers would be trimmed before final adoption at the end of summer. They also decided they would keep the Stoneybrook Gatehouse under the operations of the Stoneybrook Homeowners Association, trimming more than $130,000 from the proposed budget.

“Now we’ve shown we’re serious about cutting things,” said supervisor Lee Bettes, the board’s new chairman.

The budget approved Monday does not bind the board to any costs or programs contained in the budget, nor does it bind the board to any assessment rates spelled out in the document. Supervisors will continue meeting with residents to trim figures until the final budget is adopted in July.

Bettes said the $1 million budget cost was “shocking,” but the number includes every spending option. The budget also includes $100,000 annually for emergency reserves as well as a one-time expense of about $230,000 for cash flow reserves.

Supervisors on Monday signed off on the legislative portion of the budget and will meet later this month to begin dissecting storm water management costs. Board members will hold several workshop-style meeting to discuss the budget now through July. A workshop to discuss the storm water management portion will be held at 2 p.m., May 26.

Charles Faust resigns
Charles Faust, one of two original resident board members for the district, resigned from his post as chairman on April 18.

His term was slated to expire November 2012.

“There’s nothing beyond it than a time commitment,” Faust said leaving the board. “It seemed like an appropriate time to move on.”

Faust said he plans to spend more time with his family. The CDD board will accept résumés from those interested in the post. Information will be posted online at www.heritageharbourcommunity.com.


Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].