Beverly Crest homeowners have raised concerns over a proposed $1.2 million assessment to fix and upgrade their community pool. They argue that the HOA hasn’t been transparent about the need for the project. After an investigation, the HOA announced that it had paused the project.
Homeowners Question the $1.2 Million Assessment
Several homeowners in Beverly Crest were frustrated with the HOA’s $1.2 million special assessment. If it pushes through, the assessment would cost each homeowner approximately $1,700. It was intended to go towards pool repairs and add features like a sun shelf and kiddie pool. Homeowners would need to pay the fee in three installments by the end of the year.
While some residents do believe that improvements are needed, they worry about the process and the lack of transparency. They feel the HOA did not provide enough information about the cost of the project and why it is necessary.
HOA Claims Pool Might Fail Inspections
The Beverly Crest Master Association, which manages the community pool, issued a letter of explanation. According to the letter, local authorities may close the pool if deterioration continues. An email from a community management employee repeated these concerns, stating the pool would not meet county code requirements next year.
However, investigations show no significant issues with the pool’s condition. County officials confirmed they approved the pool for operation in 2024 without additional requirements. Because of this contradiction, homeowners question the urgency of the $1.2 million assessment.
Discrepancy Between Project Costs and Assessment
Further concerns emerged after residents reviewed the pool project’s cost estimates. Although the HOA requested a $1.2 million assessment, the contractor’s quote totaled only $950,000. The HOA explained that the additional funds were a buffer for potential over-budget expenses. However, homeowners were not satisfied with this explanation.
The HOA also claimed it couldn’t finance the project to spread out payments, citing legal restrictions. However, documents reviewed by the investigation suggested that the board had flexibility in structuring payments, including for debt repayment.
Discontent Among Residents
The controversy has been heightened by past issues with Cusick Community Management, the company managing the Beverly Crest HOA. Some smaller HOAs within the community, like The Preserve, have recently voted to sever ties with the management company over concerns about transparency and communication failures.
When Cusick failed to transfer key accounts to a new management company, The Preserve experienced a water shutoff due to a delinquent bill, further fueling dissatisfaction with the management.
The Preserve HOA ultimately voted against the pool assessment, citing homeowners’ concerns about the high cost and lack of financial transparency.
HOA Postpones Assessment
Following increasing scrutiny and resident complaints, the HOA announced that the $1.2 million assessment had been postponed. They attributed the delay to misinformation circulating within the community and media but did not specify what details were inaccurate.
While the HOA claims a majority of the 700 homeowners support the pool project, opposition to the assessment has grown, with some residents starting a petition against it. Homeowners like Janessa Horner argue that the real issue is not just the project itself but the lack of trust between residents and the board. She believes that home values could suffer in the long run without trust.
