Building a Better Budget

Vote No for the 2026 Budget

The Board has now held its monthly meeting where the 2026 budget was discussed. After gathering community feedback over the past year — through conversations, correspondence, and last year’s annual meeting — Friends of Ken Lake candidates believe the proposed budget does not fully reflect the values, priorities, and interests of our entire community.

That’s why we are now asking you to vote against ratifying the 2026 budget as proposed.

We would like the time and space to discuss a proposal that maintains current dues levels, identifies significant savings, and reinvests those savings directly into community improvement and beautification programs. 

Fiscally Responsible and Legally Prudent

Raising HOA dues should always be a last resort — and only when it clearly benefits the entire community. Unfortunately, the current proposal increases dues primarily to fund rising legal and enforcement costs, including litigation against homeowners.

We want to be transparent about what these fees represent. Each lawsuit, appeal, or enforcement action drains not only our budget but also the goodwill and stability of our neighborhood. Legal disputes between an HOA and its members often result in:

• Higher insurance premiums for the association.

• Reduced confidence in HOA governance.

• Lower overall property values, as ongoing or recent litigation can appear in real-estate disclosures and deter prospective buyers.

A fiscally responsible and legally prudent board focuses on prevention, mediation, and dialogue — resolving conflicts early, fairly, and without unnecessary expense. By limiting legal exposure and investing instead in education, maintenance, and communication, we protect both our community’s finances and its reputation.

Simply put: Avoiding risky lawsuits isn’t just good ethics — it’s good economics.

What Makes This Budget Different

Our community-informed alternative proposes to:

• Eliminate duplicative expenses, especially in administrative and communication services.

• Empower volunteers, by allocating funds to support committees in meeting their charters.

• Reinvest savings into the new Care Committee, offering practical help or small grants to residents who need support maintaining their properties.
  

Our goal is simple: to maintain the same high standard of care that makes Ken Lake exceptional by being smarter, more transparent, and more community-driven in how we manage our resources.

From Sanction to Service

Over the past three years, the shift toward aggressive fines and enforcement has come at a high cost. Many appeals reveal that the burden fell hardest on seniors, families with young children, and neighbors facing health or financial challenges.

Instead of continuing this divisive approach, voting NO open the door for a budget that:

• Pauses overly aggressive enforcement activities.

• Audits the existing compliance program for fairness and potential missteps.

• Redirects funds into a new Care Committee, focused on helping neighbors — not penalizing them — to meet community standards through education, support, and resources.
  

This shift in philosophy — from sanctions to service — can help rebuild trust and compassion within our community. At our most recent annual meeting, the number-one request from homeowners was clear: more community care, less conflict.

Why Your Vote Matters

Budgets are about more than dollars — they’re about values. This vote represents an opportunity to choose a more collaborative, transparent, and community-centered approach to HOA management.

By voting no on the proposed 2026 budget and supporting this community-driven alternative, you’re voting for:

• Fiscal responsibility without a dues increase.

• Empowering volunteers.

• Compassionate solutions over punitive enforcement.

• A stronger, more united Ken Lake.

What You Can Do

 ✅ Talk to your neighbors — share this information so everyone has a chance to make an informed choice. 

✅ Vote NO on ratifying the 2026 budget. 

✅ Reach out to share your feedback or questions — we’re listening.

Together, we can move toward a more transparent, sustainable, and compassionate future for Ken Lake.