The 2027 Budget planning process is underway!

The RBC, RBDC, and CEPCO wish to ensure RB homeowners understand the budgeting process, are kept up to date on the status of the budget and are aware of the schedule for completing and distributing the budget. As such, we have asked the Finance Committee to issue periodic updates to the RB community, beginning with this email (also posted to Club Express) and continuing through the end of the cycle.

Schedule:

• Launch: July 31 (Finance Committee and CEPCO)
• Initial Estimate Pending Receipt of Contractual Inputs: August 31
• 1^st Submission for RBC/RBDC Review: September 15 -- with Revisions: September 30
• 2^nd Submission for RBC/RBDC Approval: October 15 – with Final Revisions: October 31
• Distribution to Homeowners: November 19 (Approximate)
• Deadline for Questions to Be Submitted: December 11
• Annual Meeting / Ratification of the Budget: December 16

Input:

Homeowner input to the budget is accomplished in a number of ways, including (1) the 2024 Reserve Study, (2) the April Resident Survey, (3) emails to the RBC/ RBDC, (4) the Facilities Committee’s assessment of repairs needed, (5) the Finance Committee’s solicitation of RB Committee needs, (6) the RBC/RBDC/CEPCO monthly meetings,

Further, CEPCO solicits RB contractor input (including as landscape, waste management, electricity, water, cleaning services, etc) with contracts expiring in 2027 for anticipated price changes, and issues requests for proposals where appropriate.

Key Items:

As everyone may be aware, earlier this year a Landscape Committee was created to manage RB landscape issues and the request for proposal process for the 2027 budget contract as Element’s contract was coming up for renewal. The landscape, pruning, fertilizing, and pine straw budget line items together are RB’s largest expense, running approximately $1 million of RB’s roughly $2 million total operating expenses. The effort is nearing completion and when the Committee’s recommendation and the RBC/RBDC review are final, the results will be incorporated into the 2027 budget.

Thank you. We hope you find this information helpful. Please be on the lookout for an update in mid-September.