Heritage Harbour residents: budget methodology flawed

HERITAGE HARBOUR — Nearly two months after supervisors of the Heritage Harbour South Community Development District adopted a new budget and budget methodology for fiscal year 2012, residents continue to object to the changes, as well as other CDD practices.

At the board’s Oct. 27 meeting, residents presented supervisors with a petition signed by more than 220 homeowners, urging them to correct what they believe is a flawed assessment methodology, immediately stop paying district contractors to attend meetings, establish a business office within Manatee for record retention and reduce financial errors.

“We hereby state that our management team has failed to act upon the many reasonable requests from residents over time, to address and resolve these important issues,” the petition states. “They have not operated very efficiently and are not responsive to the concerns of the residents for financial oversight and austerity during these depressed economic times.”

Additionally, Joe Ramsey said Lighthouse Cove homeowners believe the new methodology unfairly assesses homes in their community, because the 20-acre development is paying about 20% of storm water costs.

“We are planning on opposing (that assessment),” Ramsey said. “We are trying to find a way to do that amicably. We feel we have a very solid position.”

CDD South attorney Ken van-Assenderp agreed to discuss the issue with Lighthouse Cove’s attorney at no charge. He believes the new methodology adopted by the CDD is sophisticated and fair to all residents.

Although CDD supervisors did not specifically rebut concerns raised in the petition, board members took action to address issues contained within it. For example, supervisors approved a one-year contract with Morris-Riley Development for asset management services that limits costs to $65,630 annually (compared to nearly $91,000 this year). CDD Chairman Lee Bettes said the not-to-exceed amount ensures the district will not pay more for engineering services than what is budgeted, including for the attendance of meetings.

Additionally, the board will discuss financial controls, potentially having a CDD supervisor serve as treasurer for the district, at a future meeting. The CDD’s office of record currently is in Manatee County, although it has a Sarasota address. The district also will look into concerns on the issue.

“It’s the whole process maturing,” CDD Chairman Lee Bettes said after the meeting.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].