Secret budget??

[Wilbur]

Karen's got a story up on her site now regarding the GM's refusal to let her see the Proposed Budget which the Finance Committee adopted and sent forward for review at the Budget Workshop.

This is simply amazing. Dave told her the proposed budget is "privileged information." Does that mean it continues to be hidden from member view during the Budget Workshop? We just sit there and watch them talk about numbers we can't see?

I haven't caught my breath long enough to start thinking about whether this is even legal. But I do know it is one of the most politically tone-deaf decisions I have ever witnessed.

[Matthew]

Can the board order him to release the budget?

[Mama Mia]

This "secret" move is not going to bode well with the membership.....for to many years decisions were made in the back room and kept secret from the membership and it caused the residents reason to distrust the board and management. Little by little, they made changes and began to be upfront and honest with us.....now we leap backwards and start the "secret backroom deals" again.....bad move RMA....don't forget who pays the bills out here...and I believe we have every right to see the proposed budget before its adopted.....and whats up with the manager not answering a question and walking away from a resident and the press......someone on the board and management better re- think this move.....

[MoonMan]

was this still a working budget? Or, was this the one that is heading to the printers for the meeting? If it's the former, I can see why they would want to wait (though the behavior of Mr. Stiffler was still concerning). If it's the latter...print 'em out and make them available!

[MoonMan]

also, with the title of this thread, I hear the song "Secret Lovers" by Atlantic Starr. Kind of disturbing...maybe someone can write a parody for it all?

[Wilbur]

If Dave had said "I want to make the two changes the Committee recommended before releasing it" I would not be so concerned. But that's not what he said. He said it was embargoed until the budget workshop. I think it would be VERY wise to revise that stance to "OK, I've made those changes, here it is." ASAP.

[DBCooper]

Instead he is quoted as saying, "Never Mind".

[Wilbur]

I think it may have been a long and frustrating day, the Finance Committee having once again expressed disbelief at his pie-in-the-sky cable revenue projections which had been inserted into the budget to make it come out to "no dues increase.".

[DBCooper]

Maybe I wasnt listening when it happened last year but didnt Mike Martel mention that the dues were substantially increased last year to make the cable revenue neutral to the budget?

[Wilbur]

Yes he did, and that ostensibly is the reason for putting more fantasy numbers into this year's proposed, albeit more modest ones, to mask the fact that the thing is still sucking dues like a thirsty kid on a straw and dues will have to be hiked AGAIN to sustain the effort. Thank goodness the Finance Committee isn't drinking that kool-aid and insisted that the "hopeful" projections be trimmed back rather than relied upon to balance the budget. Which takes us from 0 increase to a 2% or whatever increase because even after last year's whopper 10% increase to cover it, and even after raiding the capital reserves to cover unbudgeted expenses which even that 10% increase didn't cover (despite the salary savings of having lost the cable manager and for a time most of the crew in the field), the thing is still thirsty for more member dollars.

The wheels are coming off the wagon.