Celebrate the savings!

International Village unit owners will be getting a maintenance fee reduction for an unprecedented THIRD year in a row next year. Of the well over 300 owners who submitted their budget proxies before our budget meeting this week, about 95 percent of you voted “Yes” to paying a little less in maintenance fees starting in January, and I was very pleased to vote for a budget that will make that happen.

But this budget is more than just an opportunity for owners to keep a little more money in their pockets. It’s the culmination of three years of steady progress toward greater cost savings and smarter budgeting. Under this new budget, the average one-bedroom unit owner will be paying $120 less in maintenance fees per year than they did just two years ago, while the average two-bedroom owner will be paying $180 less a year in maintenance fees than they did in 2014. That’s huge, considering that just a few years ago, a previous board was promising 7 percent maintenance fee increases every year for as far as the eye could see. Thankfully, those days of reckless spending are over.

But saving money and avoiding waste doesn’t mean skimping on important investments. The budget we just approved not only continues to build on the savings and efficiencies of the last few years, but it also provides funding to complete the building renovations begun this year, which is a top priority for 2017.  

So yes, International Village has a lot to celebrate this holiday season. And speaking of celebrating, owners will have several opportunities to do so over the next couple of weeks, beginning with a barbecue this Dec. 11 from 2 to 5 p.m. in the picnic area next to the tennis courts, followed by a Hanukkah celebration and movie also this Sunday at 7 p.m. in the clubhouse large card room, and finally a Christmas party with live band on Friday, Dec. 23 from 6 to 10 p.m. in the clubhouse. Hope to see you there!

John Labriola
International Village President