Announcement

Ocean Pines Board approves FY 2025-26 budget

Monday, February 24, 2025

(Feb. 24, 2025) The Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors on Saturday unanimously approved the fiscal year 2025-26 budget during a regularly scheduled meeting.

The spending plan, described by one elected official as "lean and mean," reflects months of collaboration between General Manager John Viola and staff, the Budget and Finance Committee, and the Board, with multiple opportunities for public input.

The final budget includes total operating revenues and expenses of $12,846,393 and sets the basic nonwater assessment at $875.

Board members widely praised Viola and his staff for their diligent work on the budget development and process toward its approval, which began last September.

“A thorough review has been completed by the GM and his team, by the Budget and Finance Committee and by the Board of Directors,” Director Monica Rakowski said. “The budget was posted on the OPA website for review by the membership. A public meeting was held on Feb. 5 to present the budget to the membership and have an open discussion to address questions or concerns.”

Rakowski also acknowledged the role played by the Budget and Finance Committee.

“They’re all volunteers, and they play a huge role in this. These are our neighbors [and] that really helped John and his staff.”

Director Jeff Heavner emphasized the transparency of the budgeting process.

“Today's budget approval vote is the culmination of a well-designed and proven process by John Viola and his operational staff,” Heavner said. “This process provided transparency throughout multiple opportunities for opinion. This beautiful, bottom-up balanced budget is the foundation of our strategy … to ensure Ocean Pines remains a premier community with exceptional value and quality of life.”

One of the notable changes in this year’s budget is the introduction of an overall Racquet Sports membership. Several Board members said the adjustment was necessary to maintain the facility's quality and financial sustainability.

Heavner credited Racquet Sports Director Terry Underkoffler for a thorough financial review.

“Terry concluded that a significant change was required to work towards a balanced Racquet Sports budget,” Heavner said. “These opinions may influence future changes at the Racquet Center that may reduce operating costs and minimize future pricing movements. A strong and sustainable financial position is key to our mission.”

Director Elaine Brady supported the new membership model, calling it long overdue.

“Quite frankly, I've always wondered why it wasn't that to begin with,” Brady said. “The entire complex is for the benefit of all who play there, and the cost of maintaining that facility is borne by everybody there. Why each sport had a different membership amount never really made sense to me.”

Brady noted that for most members, the increase would only amount to an additional $8 per month.

“Truthfully, part of the reason that the Racquet Center has not been making money over the years is that the majority of the people who play there have had a membership rate well below local market,” she said. “We're just bringing that up a little bit so that we can get the Racquet Sports Center into a positive position.”

Director Steve Jacobs described the final budget as “lean and mean.” He also addressed Racquet Sports, noting that the changes were necessary for financial stability.

“We were told at our [budget review] session that there's a $70,000 hole to cover in Racquet Sports,” Jacobs said. “We’re talking about basic maintenance – nets, seats, tables, umbrellas, fencing, electric [and] salaries.”

Jacobs noted that Pickleball takes up the most space at the Racquet Center, with 12 courts currently and discussion for converting another court for pickleball use.

“Everyone's got to share in the cost,” he said. “We have a good and improving Racquet Sports Center. It's going to get better. It's deserving of our support, and I hope everyone does that.”

Vice President Rick Farr echoed support for the budget process and commended staff for their expertise and professionalism.

“I really want to give credit to all the directors of the different amenities,” Farr said. “They were very, very well prepared in presenting their budgets and doing the research and giving the reasons why they need to do certain things. It was amazing to see all the hard work that all the directors had and were able to present in a very professional way.”

Director John Latham reinforced the Board’s fiduciary responsibility to all Ocean Pines homeowners.

“Not to support this budget, in my mind, would be fiscally irresponsible,” Latham said. “Each one of the directors did a thorough job in walking through their respective area of business, and I believe this Board is in support of this budget.”

Board President Dr. Stuart Lakernick underscored the complexity of the budgeting process and praised Viola’s leadership.

“This budget to run this community is a very complicated process,” Lakernick said. “We have all these different amenities. We have all these different departments with what their needs are. The bottom-up approach that John Viola and his team have taken has ensured that we have … a lean and mean budget.”

Lakernick emphasized that the Board relies on the expertise of Viola and his staff to guide decisions.

“All of his department heads answered every question we had,” he said. “If we had an issue, we asked it, and they were very forthcoming, and he's got an incredible team. That’s why we hired them. We take their advice, and then we take John’s advice when he gives us this excellent budget, and I’m fully in support.”

With the Board’s approval, the FY 2025-26 budget is now set.

To view the approved budget, visit https://www.oceanpines.org/documents/20124/6309996/FY26+Budget+Binder+Version+7+-+2-7-25.pdf/e04d7eba-4f8d-d579-a557-9d473571d790?t=1738949921365.

Announcement

Ocean Pines Board approves FY 2025-26 budget

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