| Hi Ridgemont neighbors, As we reach the midpoint of 2026, the Board wants to share an update on our community’s finances. Two forces are shaping our 2026 budget, and to date, they have somewhat offset each other. An active storm season pushed tree costs well above plan, and we have brought common-ground costs down by adjusting services; on balance, the year is projected to be close to budget. Admittedly, we are being conservative in our expenditures and will continue to do so until we are out of storm season. What follows is a more detailed overview of our finances and our efforts to be good stewards of your yearly dues. See the Budget Breakdown Here Dues and Income Assessment income for 2026 is essentially fully collected: $79,682 received against a budget of $79,625. Thank you for keeping your accounts up to date. Your timely payments help us keep the neighborhood running smoothly. An Active Storm Season and Invasives Tree costs have been the biggest challenge. This year’s storms and other natural events forced us to remove many hazardous and damaged trees from our common areas near homes. As a result, tree spending is about $23,600, much higher than the planned $5,300. This is our largest budget difference this year, caused by the weather and not by a planning mistake. Adjusting Common-Ground Services We made a first-quarter payment of $10,905 to Common Ground Management in advance to receive a vendor discount. For the first half of the year, our spending is $13,989, which is almost $5,000 under budget. We are also talking with our common-ground management company to review charges that could further reduce our costs and to address areas requiring attention. We adjusted the common-ground budget downward by reducing the level of landscaping services we had originally planned to contract for. Common-ground spending is now projected under budget for the year. This is the lever most directly in our control, and we are using it as best as we can to offset increased expenses. All other budget categories are close to plan, except for electricity (Ameren), which is running a bit over budget. Looking to the End of August and Beyond The biggest variable from here is the weather. Another significant storm before the season winds down is the main thing that could affect our finances, and it is largely out of our hands, but that risk steadily declines as the season passes. We are keeping our spending conservative until we are through it. Our best estimate is that the year ends with a small shortfall and a modest further draw on reserves. If the weather cooperates and tree costs ease, we hope to begin the long-planned common-ground work (removing honeysuckle and revitalizing both entrances) later this year or early next, as noted in our previous newsletter. The Board is dedicated to managing your assessments with care and transparency. If you have any questions about the numbers above, please email us at [email protected]. Respectfully, Ridgemont Board of Trustees |
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