By Maggie Beamguard
Insider Editor
The Seven Lakes West Board of Directors presented the proposed 2025-2026 budget at a town hall on Dec. 10 and held the first reading of the budget at the Dec. 17 monthly board of directors meeting.
The proposed budget, predicated on adequate reserves, raises dues by $87. That’s more than doubling the previous year’s dues increase of just $34 for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
The recent moderate increases follow hefty dues hikes of $276 for the 2023-2024 fiscal year and $250 for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
The 4.7 percent increase in dues, costing property owners $7.25 a month, would support a spending plan of $4.05 million, including an operating budget of $2.35 million and capital expenditures of $1.7 million.
Allowing for a period of public comment of at least 30 days, a second reading of the budget and vote is scheduled for the board’s projected Jan. 28 meeting. The budget will then be sent to eligible property owners in a packet along with the ballots for the election of new board members in the first week of February.
In accordance with the association’s by-laws, property owners will vote on the proposed measure. The results of that vote will be presented at the annual meeting of the association in March.
According to the presentation on Dec. 10, the budget was built with four main things in mind: lakes/dams/ponds; safety/security; infrastructure; and administration.
Operating expenses for operations, maintenance and roads increased by $67,454 and administrative costs increased by $52,789. Other operating expenses are projected to decrease. Lake and dam operating expenses decreased by $20,050 and security dropped by $80,860.
With security identified as a board priority, Board President Frank Ingham attributes the reduction in security costs to lower projected costs rather than a decrease in amenity effectiveness.
The largest capital expenditure is designated for road and culvert improvements at $1.2 million. These funds are in addition to the $860,000 capital expense line item for the current fiscal year 2024-2025. Work on a three-phase program of crack sealing, patching and paving began with those funds in mid-December 2024.
Maintaining the 35 miles of roads in the community is a costly endeavor. The land management committee is responsible for prioritizing and planning these projects and the infrastructure committee is responsible for executing the improvements.
Other proposed capital spending includes $200,000 for a pickleball court to be completed in the fiscal year 2026; $30,000 for Johnson Point Marina Bumper rails and pedestal; $30,000 for speed monitoring equipment; $80,000 for dam related projects and $150,000 for pond No. 3, dam 2.
A new pickleball court would provide a popular amenity item to the community but some may object to the price tag.
“There is no doubt there is interest in this thing,” Ingham said. “We understand that as we get more young folks there is a big demand for this. And frankly the one we have now stays busy.” Currently pickleball is played on existing tennis courts.
He went on to say that once the project is placed to bid, it could cost less than estimated. Line item amounts are, in that sense, placeholders.
As the budget process for the next fiscal year, beginning May 1 2025 moves forward, Ingham expressed gratitude.
“I’m grateful to the community for stepping up and understanding that we are all volunteers. I’m grateful for all committee members and the folks that are paying the dues.”
Contact Maggie Beamguard at maggie@thepilot.com.
