We'd like to outline updates to the 2021 rate structures and some other important updates.
For starters, invoices for this season will be going out in the next several days.
As we have in previous years, we've applied nominal increases across all membership levels. The fact is that every year, our aging pool costs a little more to maintain and operate, and we need to increase rates in order to keep pace with those operating cost increases, including planned additions to our all-important capital reserves account. Once way you can help us here is to pay your invoice quickly!
Signing up is easy! We have multiple different membership levels for families of all sizes, and an online form that makes signing up easy. Check out the memership page for more information, to sign up, or learn more about the benefits of membership.
So what kind of things do we use our capital reserves account for? Past large (and expensive) projects have included a pool deck resurfacing, multiple pump replacements, and other needed repairs required to open every year.
Furthermore, we've outlined near-term large expenditures that will have to be completed in order for the pool to remain open. These include a complete pool replastering and retiling in order to prevent additional leaking.
All of these upcoming requirements, coupled with the loss of nearly $15k last year due to COVID-related membership reductions. The hard truth is that we need to take some evasive action to reconcile the pool's long-term fiscal situation.
The board has been deliberating for some time now about how to best handle the reality of our fiscal needs far exceeding our current membership income. For these reasons, we have elected to add a non-optional fee of $50 per membership that will be dedicated to beefing up our capital reserves in order to effectively handle these near-future expenses without putting our ability to open at risk. Note that this fee is intended to be temporary, and will be far less impactful than a required large special assessment we would likely have to do without taking actions like this now.
The board has been working extensively to determine new revenue routs that we can use to both improve the pool's expenses and help provide for a better member experience. And, we're happy to say that we've got a number of additional significant income sources lined up that will have minimal-to-no negative impact on your access, and will ultimately help us continue to improve the pool's usability, visual appeal, and member access.
While we're not ready to discuss all of these points until they're finalized, stay tuned, because more information will be coming in the coming weeks.
