Time may be right for assessment rise

When we heard that the Property Owners Association was once again going to trot out the old horse — more formally known as ask for an assessment increase — we had to sigh. The sigh is because getting the membership to approve anything has historically been an extremely difficult task.

In the recent words of Jim Parsons — Bella Vista’s gadfly (a term granted to him a couple decades ago by an editorial writer at the bygone "Benton County Daily Record)" — “What do you (meaning the POA Board) not understand about ‘No.’”

According to the proposal, members will vote on two questions. One question is to raise the monthly assessment fee for improved lots by $9 — for a total of $33 a month. The other question is to raise the monthly assessment fee for unimproved lots by $3 — for a total of $19 a month. Election costs were estimated at $36,000. Ballots will be mailed in September, with the results announced in early November.

In the following week, we were intrigued by the marketing effort spearheaded by General Manager Tom Judson, who’s been on the job for less than a year. He’s produced a well-designed flier that shows what can be done if the proposals are approved by the membership. Judson offers a new, fresh method of marketing the proposal. He offered to meet with members in small groups or large groups, even in their own living rooms, to answer their questions.

The last assessment increase came in 2001. If assessments had been raised 2.1 percent annually since 2001, they would have reached close to the amount the board is requesting, Judson said. He’s using a two-sided handout to clearly state what the increase will fund. Planned improvements scheduled for 2017 include a swim beach at Lake Avalon, more work on Branchwood and the renovation of the Country Club. Planned for 2018 is an expansion of the Branchwood building and new playground equipment at several facilities.

The biggest projects are scheduled for 2020 to 2021. A new community center and swim complex — at the cost of about $7 million — are planned to replace Riordan Hall. Riordan would be converted to offices for membership services and the water department. The auditorium would probably be renovated and remain in use, Judson said.

Each phase of the plan includes money set aside for things such as maintenance to keep the facilities at their current level, Judson said. Upkeep will cost between $2.2 million and $4 million each year until 2022.

Judson isn’t counting solely on the assessment increase to pay for the plan. He said he and his staff have already found ways to save money previously budgeted, and he plans to bring in more money through operations. The handout shows “incremental cash from operational revenue, deficiencies and improvements,” almost matching the money coming in from the increase in assessments.

Watching the chatter on Facebook has been interesting.

As in all situations, the negative voices seem to always be louder. But, right now, the number of people who are saying they are going to vote for the increase seems to be pretty large. But, we’re waiting for the negatives to rise to the challenge of shouting them down.

Late last week we spotted the first against yard sign. Sure it was recycled from the recent election to change the Declaration (a document sort of like the nation’s constitution) — but that shows how they’re not going to let go of their “No.”

This early test of the water makes us believe that maybe this time an assessment proposal can receive member approval.

But it is NOT going to happen without an

organized, well-designed marketing campaign — much more than Judson enjoying tea and cookies in living rooms while handing out flyers and answering questions.

And it’s got to be well funded. By well funded we do not mean spending tons of POA money on it. That just gives the opposition more ammunition. We suggest that a few people need to set up a committee, register with the state, and start collecting money from people — then spending the cash on an organized, coordinated advertising campaign.

Judson, in a meeting last week, used his recent home-buying experience to justify the increase. He and his wife didn’t consider purchasing one home because it had avocado appliances, which indicated the house was dated. Association facilities are dated and need refreshing, he said. That’s a great analogy.

We believe that for this election to gain membership approval, supporters are going to have to sell an idea: Rather than maintaining the Bella Vista of the past, this is the right time and right way to create the Bella Vista of the future.