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Cory Lake Isles Residents Facing Higher Fees

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LAURA KINSLER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 17, 2008

CORY LAKE ISLES - Talk about sticker shock.

Calling it a worst-case scenario, the community development district presented homeowners with a budget that could raise their assessments nearly $900 next year.

District manager John Daugirda's proposed 2009 budget jumped from $1.6 million to $2.5 million.

"It's a work in progress," Daugirda said.

Homeowners had another word: "ridiculous."

"Simply what everyone in here wants is a reasonable and responsible budget," homeowner Jorge Castillo said. "This is an unreasonable and ridiculous increase. A $1,000 increase? What the hell?"

By the end of the meeting, board supervisors had pledged to trim hundreds of thousands of dollars from the budget before bringing it to a vote next month. Residents still likely will see their fees increase by about $600 next year.

The stepped-up security contract will be first on the chopping block. The board signed a short-term contract with Wackenhut in May and will seek bids for a new contract in August. Maintaining the current contract with Wackenhut, which included adding a nightly patrol officer, would raise security costs by $140,000.

"We need to look at the value added – or not added," homeowner Leo Northington said. "Do we really need a rover every single night?"

Daugirda put the question to dozens of residents during the July 16 budget meeting: Do people like the enhanced security?

The universal response was a loud "No!"

The proposed budget for landscaping and maintenance is $150,000 higher than in the current budget. Board Supervisor Roger Brown said the numbers are intentionally inflated because this will be the first time the board puts the contract out to bid. He expects the number to drop significantly after the bids come in Aug. 18.

Supervisor Jane Taggart also pressed the board to reduce the budgeted number for capital improvements from $300,000 to $200,000.

The board is scheduled to vote on new landscaping and security contracts and approve the budget Aug. 26.

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 865-4844 or lkinsler@tampatrib.com.

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