What happened to transparency in Sun City?

A friend asked me to share this.

"I live in Sun City, AZ, a peaceful community where each members voice should count. As of the past couple of years, we noticed our dues increasing tremendously, primarily because of decisions that we, as members were neither consulted, nor did we vote on. These decisions range from ideas of purchasing an electric vehicle charging station, purchasing electric vehicles (EV's) to erecting costly buildings and or buying a building in severe disrepair. Transparency and Democracy are the backbone of our community. Yet, our Board of Directors and General Manager have ostensibly overlooked this, making decisions that directly impact us without our input. This overreach undermines our shared values and, in essence, depreciates our community experience. It is essential to note that electric vehicles accounted for just 2% of all U.S. automobile sales in 2020 (source: U.S. Department of Energy). Therefore, without proper consultation and a thorough understanding of our community's needs, the decision to invest in EVs and related infrastructure could restrain our finances further. To restore our community's democratic foundation, we insist on a mandatory meeting involving the Board of Directors, the General Manager, and all community members before any hefty purchases. Additionally, we request that any significant buying decisions be put to a community-wide vote. with the majority decision binding. Through this, we can ensure more equitable decision-making that appropriately balance the community's interests and budget. Help us demand more transparency and democratic decision-making in our community. Write/call the Board of Directors individually and the General Manager, and let's take back control our community finances."

I agree with her. I wonder if this is part of the reason West and Grand removed the Del Webb from their name? Could it be they don't want to be associated with the original? Three resale shops just recently left, one no lease renewal, not sure why, the other due to high cost and is relocating to SCW (how in the heck does SCW do it?) Monty's (supposedly retired). oh and one Mexican restaurant that was very popular went to SCW. Tivoli's, Fords World Travel and so many more.

 

This is the other post I was asked to share.

"Needs repeating and forwarding: I went to Fairway today for a class and found that they moved the check- n counter back to the old position. No one going anywhere but the pool and fitness needed to check-in. For an organization to be so worried about security a few months ago, why??? If there is a problem now, we know it is the Board and GM that decided security is not as big a deal as they claimed it was and blamed it on the MCLD. Speaking about other things, we still do not have our signed 5 year contract with the MCLD. WHY?? What's the holdup? MCLD is minus a meeting room because there are issues with the RCSC contract, the insurance and more. Wonder who created those issues. I'm almost positive it isn't the MCLD. I also attended a recent workshop on dog harnesses and crating. The dog club seems to have plenty of room at the Mountain View Hall for those classes and training, plus the space at Fairway. Why do they need a million dollar center to do those things they have plenty of space for at Mountain View??? We are being conned with needless spending by our Board and GM. Time to start once again rallying, speaking out and stop the spending on needless centers. I'm sure when the Board and GM meet in September, they'll already have some of their needless spending ideas already agreed upon and started without our input on the necessity of things. HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!"

 

It's my understanding that the new budget will be released and available for comment in September with several open Town-Hall meetings. Now....I'm not assuming that Member input can or will do anything to change the budget, but only assume we will simply get an explanation as to how and why they came up with the new numbers.

I suppose the Board will vote on the budget in October and November?

As far as the new concept of a 5 year plan goes; as I understand it, budgets are only approved on a one-year budgetary plan. The 5 year budgetary plan will be an ever changing set of numbers based on the assumed future needs based on scheduled projects, inflation, maintenance requirements, salaries, etc.

You can take it to the bank though, that as sure as I'm writing this, your annual assessment will increase every new coming year.

Perhaps our own, somewhat, saving grace would be for Trump to win the election and eliminate the tax on Social Security? That would no doubt be the highest ever cost of living increase we'll ever see from SS?

But always remember...you get the government you deserve, and that goes for the RCSC Board of Directors as well as any other elected official. “Voting is as much an emotional act as it is an intellectual one.“ Vote with your head, not your heart! Are you really better off today than you were 4 years ago? Honestly? How's those food costs working out for you? When's the last time you actually filled-up your car with gas? Hmmm? Gasoline or groceries? Hmmm? Milk or medications?

And that's just my opinion...like it or not!

 

I believe she was referring to the 5 year library contract. I can check.

 

My response to your friend would be, "Yes, you did have an opportunity to vote when RCSC elected the Directors in December. I hope you participated in that vote. While it is important for Members to know what is being proposed for expenses and revenues, including our lot assessments, RCSC has elected the Directors to make those decisions. Please attend meetings, read RCSC emails and postings, and consult your bylaws when you have questions. They are on their website. Also ask serious questions of next year's candidates and vote accordingly."

While I would have preferred that the Budget and Finance Committee would have been more transparent, I will wait to see the budget before passing judgement.

Regarding the EV charging stations, does anyone know if they are included in the budget or just someone's suggestion? If included, what is the cost to install and how will the consumer be charged? Until we know the answer to these questions, we are really not knowledgeable to make decide ourselves.

 

It's my understanding that a person who belongs to the Long Range Planning Committee and also owns an EV has volunteered to do some research on that topic. I also believe that if the RCSC were to install EV charging stations they would be installed and owned by whoever installs them and anybody using them would be required to pay for there use.

It seemed to me, while attending those meetings as a guest, the general consensus of the committee is, if you live in Sun City and own an EV you will have have your own charger at your home and there's no real need to install them at any of the Rec Centers? I will also note, that after attending the last LRP committee meeting, the person who volunteered to investigate the issue did not attend the meeting or submit a report! So the conclusion of his investigation is still up in the air as far as I know.

I don't believe there is anything in this years budget addressing EV charging stations.

 

I'm still waiting for any of the wanna-be experts on this forum on By-laws, Articles of incorporation, Roberts Rules, and any other RCSC communication to show
the the line by line item in any of the above that specifically states that when you buy into Sun City, prices for ANYTHING will never go up including your monthly assessment.
I may be wrong here, but I'll bet that most people on here at one time or another have complained about inflation and how much more things cost.
That includes vehicle fuel, home heating gas, water, electric, phones, food, car insurance, house insurance, health insurance, yearly assessments, and anything else you'd like to mention. Keeping that in mind, the RCSC has the same increases in all of the above so they must be passed on to RCSC residents. Of course
if you moved here expecting the RCSC to absorb all those increases, you live in a fantasy world. By the way, both inflation and recession are cyclical and recession usually follows inflation and both of them are non-partisan so please leave the political comments in your own household - don't bring them to this forum.
Most people moved to Sun City because it was the cheapest community to buy into and had many more amenities than most of the other retirement communities.
As for EV charging stations, there are NO facts available on this yet so everything you here is RUMOR. I will say though that if EV charging stations are installed they must make money for the RCSC - that means you pay to play. If you can afford an EV you surely can afford to pay to charge it since your gas costs drop dramatically. Don't depend on the RCSC and all it's residents to pay to fuel your vehicle. EV charging stations have installation costs and more associated with them even if they are solar powered.
We have to stop catering to some of the ridiculous WANTS of residents like a million or more for a dog training facility which would only be used for a few. If the dog people get that facility, they will then want the RCSC to pay for the training. We must concentrate on NEEDS and maintenance which benefit the majority of Sun City residents.
Stop CRYING POOR MOUTH. If you didn't plan for inflation in any form you planned to fail.

 

I agree that they are cyclical but not that they are non-partisan! You don't have to look back any farther than the last two administrations!

 

Very nice. You have no clue what may have happened in any person's life but your own. There could have been serious medical issues that they failed to plan for or maybe they failed to plan for losing their business.

 

HH "There could have been serious medical issues that they failed to plan for or maybe they failed to plan for losing their business."

The key words are they failed to plan.

 

Or we could have elected an administration that's attempting to fundamentally transform America?

 

Thanks for the update, Tom. In other words, let's not get excited over something that may not even happen!

 

Well...if you have enough money to "plan" for such instances, I'm happy for you! Most people are now living day-to-day simply planning whether to fill-up their car or use that money to buy groceries or medications, or pay their utility bills!

So... what are you planning for? Heart attack? Stroke? Knee replacement? Do you have a savings account for each? The only thing anybody can really plan for is that they're going to die!

 

Please, please, please keep politics off of this form.
If you want to talk politics go to truth social

 

Sorry, if you don't like my politics then don't read my posts.

I didn't know you owned this forum with just your opinion?

Our Freedom of Speech has not yet disappeared, although there are many attempting to do so. So until that happens I will continue to exercise my opinion as do you.

Stop reading my posts if my opinions bother you so much.

Thank you.

 

I failed to plan for the 10 million plus illegals Biden let into our country. https://x.com/i/status/1825122014945779902

 

That every taxpayer is paying for!

 

That is the beauty of this site. FB and ND groups are run by one or two people. They don't like something you say and boom! You are banned. I expect someone is desperately trying to become an admin on this platform as well. Total control. Oh well, Harris/Walz get in and this will become a communist country. Harris was raised by a Marxist and look what Walz did to his state. The DNC is giving free abortions and vasectomies to any attendee in Chicago. I am all in for the vasectomy part tho.

 

I'd be more than happy to start a thread purely on politics alone. If anybody cares to participate that's fine with me. It will surly be interesting to see and read, especially with the DNC convention starting tomorrow!

I hope Chicago store owners have their places of business well protected because this may end up being real bard-burner...literally!

 

That's why I started the Harris/Walz thread in non SC forum. God forbid anyone goes off topic, but most are liberal here so not much traffic. Just because I can Here's a little video of a non violent protest in Minneapolis where Harris did a go fund me for those that did happen to get arrested. https://x.com/i/status/1820811125140709582