[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by The Chipster

I am amazed that the fees are only going us $4 per month. And this generates complaints?

Does that surprise you????? There once was a post where someone complained that a restaurant charged them 12 cents too much.

[biker1]

That sounds reasonable - about 2.5% - that is what the CPI went up by in 2016. I am not sure what time period of the CPI is actually used for the calculation of the increase. Hopefully, presumably, it is an average over a reasonable time frame to average out the short term fluctuations.

Originally Posted by The Chipster

I am amazed that the fees are only going us $4 per month. And this generates complaints?

[rubicon]

I signed on clearly understanding the agreement and the CPI increases as respects amenity fees. So I am not complaining. However and again only observation/question is would residents be better off financially if they paid for amenities based on usage rather than a monthly fee?

Secondly, and this is more than an observation rules were made to be broken. The assurance that the only manner in which amenitity fees can rise is via CPI can change on a dime if the powers to be determine that amenity fee flow is insufficient to meet expenses. Prices go up on everything. So "it will never happen" can in my view "happen"

As a sidebar its one of the reason I get concerned when a resident says why can't we have.... Or why can't the amenity fee pay for.........its the want v need issue over and over again. some of us are disciplined spenders meaning we study the price-value equation carefully before deciding on a purchase... some are not

[biker1]

Your assertion below might not be true. The language in the deed restrictions would need to be changed and that process might not be as easy as you suggest (i.e. change on a dime).

Originally Posted by rubicon

I signed on clearly understanding the agreement and the CPI increases as respects amenity fees. So I am not complaining. However and again only observation/question is would residents be better off financially if they paid for amenities based on usage rather than a monthly fee?

Secondly, and this is more than an observation rules were made to be broken. The assurance that the only manner in which amenitity fees can rise is via CPI can change on a dime if the powers to be determine that amenity fee flow is insufficient to meet expenses. Prices go up on everything. So "it will never happen" can in my view "happen"

As a sidebar its one of the reason I get concerned when a resident says why can't we have.... Or why can't the amenity fee pay for.........its the want v need issue over and over again. some of us are disciplined spenders meaning we study the price-value equation carefully before deciding on a purchase... some are not

[Lisa99]

We just moved in this week and feel that the fee is very reasonable. The Sun City That we moved from in Nevada our HOA was $105/month and included pools, sport courts, and community center use only. If you took an exercise class it was $40/month and the greens fees were high. So we're loving this!

[biker1]

You mentioned greens fee. Just be aware that the amenities fees only covers the executive courses. The championship courses have separate greens fees.

Originally Posted by Lisa99

We just moved in this week and feel that the fee is very reasonable. The Sun City That we moved from in Nevada our HOA was $105/month and included pools, sport courts, and community center use only. If you took an exercise class it was $40/month and the greens fees were high. So we're loving this!

[mtdjed]

[QUOTE=rubicon;1424960]I signed on clearly understanding the agreement and the CPI increases as respects amenity fees. So I am not complaining. However and again only observation/question is would residents be better off financially if they paid for amenities based on usage rather than a monthly fee?

Kind of reminds me of my first bill for amenity fees before I moved in. Called The Villages and questioned why I had to pay since we had not moved in yet. Response was basically a Thank You for helping to maintain the facilities so that they are ready for you when you get here. And in retrospect , they were and are.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by rubicon

I signed on clearly understanding the agreement and the CPI increases as respects amenity fees. So I am not complaining. However and again only observation/question is would residents be better off financially if they paid for amenities based on usage rather than a monthly fee?

Some would, some wouldn't. But the amenity fee pays for more than Rec Centers and exec courses---doesn't it include the landscaping, flowers in RB's, fountain maintenance, pool maintenance, tree trimming etc.? These are things that would be hard to bill for by usage.

Some things benefit the community as a whole, not just those that use a particular part----otherwise we could argue the school system should be paid for by usage, not property taxes. Or worse yet, the police should be paid for by those that don't own their own personal arsenal.

[Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by biker1

Please post a reference regarding a cap as I have never seen such language.

"The contractual agreement does provide for the amenity fee to be adjusted by the increase/decrease in the Consumer Price Index (CPI)."

Utilities - Rate Information

Scroll down to Amenity Information

If you need the assistance of a customer service representative to understand your bill or any of these charges, please call 352-750-0000.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Jayhawk

"The contractual agreement does provide for the amenity fee to be adjusted by the increase/decrease in the Consumer Price Index (CPI)."

Utilities - Rate Information

Scroll down to Amenity Information

If you need the assistance of a customer service representative to understand your bill or any of these charges, please call 352-750-0000.

More detail is available in my post....#11.

[OhioBuckeye]

Originally Posted by vinricci

I've noticed my amenity fees are creeping up. Now it is $149.22. Last time I looked it was $145.00
Is there a cap on rate hikes?

I noticed mine went from $151.57 to $154.34 this month. You would think with thousands of new homes being built they would stabilize. You can kinda see the writing on the wall, as long as TV keeps growing & people continue to want to live here they'll keep going up but just like all other communities like TV, when it stops growing things will get older & older & everything will start to rise drastically. I'm sure lots of people have their own idea's about this!

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by OhioBuckeye

I noticed mine went from $151.57 to $154.34 this month. You would think with thousands of new homes being built they would stabilize. You can kinda see the writing on the wall, as long as TV keeps growing & people continue to want to live here they'll keep going up but just like all other communities like TV, when it stops growing things will get older & older & everything will start to rise drastically. I'm sure lots of people have their own idea's about this!

With all the new homes come new amenities thus more cost.
They will go up as noted in your deed restrictions.
The Villages is not like all other communities like TV.
Why will everything start to rise drastically?
From one of the people with my own ideas............

[biker1]

In my post, I neglected to highlight the phrase I was posting about. I was looking for the official language regarding the statement that there is a cap of $155 (or so) on the amenities fee. The fact that the amenities fee is tied to the CPI is documented in the deed restrictions document but it doesn't make reference to an absolute cap.

Originally Posted by Jayhawk

"The contractual agreement does provide for the amenity fee to be adjusted by the increase/decrease in the Consumer Price Index (CPI)."

Utilities - Rate Information

Scroll down to Amenity Information

If you need the assistance of a customer service representative to understand your bill or any of these charges, please call 352-750-0000.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by biker1

In my post, I neglected to highlight the phrase I was posting about. I was looking for the official language regarding the statement that there is a cap of $155 (or so) on the amenities fee. The fact that the amenities fee is tied to the CPI is documented in the deed restrictions document but it doesn't make reference to an absolute cap.

There is a good explanation here:
http://www.poa4us.org/bulletins_file...etin201606.pdf

[biker1]

The amenities scale up in number (golf courses, rec centers) as the population grows so more homes will not impact the amenities fee; more people paying for more amenities. The increases in the amenities fee is tied to the CPI so as to keep pace with inflation. Presumably money is budgeted from the amenities fees to adequately fund the inevitable refurbishment of the amenities. It should be self sustaining.

Originally Posted by OhioBuckeye

I noticed mine went from $151.57 to $154.34 this month. You would think with thousands of new homes being built they would stabilize. You can kinda see the writing on the wall, as long as TV keeps growing & people continue to want to live here they'll keep going up but just like all other communities like TV, when it stops growing things will get older & older & everything will start to rise drastically. I'm sure lots of people have their own idea's about this!