For Kathy Paez, living in Columbia is worth the cost.
“That’s why I live here — I enjoy the amenities,” said the Wilde Lake resident.
Based on a recent survey:
• 94 percent have used at least one of the open space amenities like its lakes, parks and pathways.
• 72 percent have used the sports and fitness facilities, camps, before and after school care or the Art Center Source: Columbia Association
And she supports the Columbia Association’s decision to leave the annual fee unchanged for fiscal year 2010.
“I think it would be wise to hold it at its current level in the current economic climate,” she said.
The revenue from the annual charge pays for CA’s recreational, cultural and community services, such as its art and teen center, fitness facilities, golf courses and summer concerts.
Services will remain the same, even if the charge stays the same next year, officials said.
“I don’t anticipate any changes now, but we’ll just have to see how things go,” said Tom O’Connor, chairman of the CA board.
“We’ve got it down tight now.”
Fees from residents cover about 70 percent of the expenses while businesses pick up the other 30 percent.
The annual charge rate for fiscal 2009 is 68 cents per $100 of valuation assessed on 50 percent of the fair market property value, which is determined by the state. The maximum allowed under the CA charter is 75 cents.
An average home owner currently pays about $780 a year, or about $65 a month, said Rafia Siddiqui, CA’s vice president of administrative services.
The CA board also recently reduced the cap on allowable increases in assessed valuation from 3 percent to 2 1/2 percent.
“I think the 68 cents will stay the same, so we’ve tried to move the cap down,” said CA board member Miles Coffman.
The CA operates on a two-year budget cycle, which will next be reviewed beginning early next year. In February, the board will vote on the annual charge rate for fiscal year 2010, which begins May 1.
“The board has been making a commendable effort to lessen the burden on residents,” said Rob Goldman, CA’s vice president of the sport and fitness division.
“From a staff perspective, we don’t see any shortfall in revenue or other fees that would suggest the should board raise the charge or the cap.”
Goldman, who has been in the sport and recreation businesses for more than 30 years, said he’s lived through three recessions and said they don’t usually affect attendance in fitness and sports facilities.
“When there’s a recession, you might not buy that new car or expensive jewelry,” he said. “So, if residents are already using these recreational facilities, they’ll use them even more. That’s going to be their main recreational outlet now.”
The CA has used Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc., a national and independent firm that does market research, to determine the community’s use of the services.
The previous survey, completed about three years ago, showed that residents are still taking advantage of the services at high rates.
“We’re getting ready to do another survey, but these numbers remain fairly constant,” Goldman said.
