Sedona AZ (October 28, 2015) – The following is a letter to the SedonaEye.com editor:
Subject: VOCA Permits are REQUIRED and if you don’t pay attention you will be fined
VOCA new construction permit fee was $150.00; Now it’s $1500.00.
Paint permit fee was $0; Now $25.
Driveway, re-roof, propane tank permit fee was $0; Now $25.
Landscaping, walls, fencing permit fee was $25; Now $50.
These are just some of the increases.
Who gets the profit? Hoamco or VOCA?
Will the profit be used to lower our assessment?
The VOCA Architectural and Restrictions committee will meet on November 5 at 10:00 a.m. If you need a permit, your request must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. on November 4, 2015. There is an additional $50 fine if you do work without a permit and approval. If you miss the submission this time, you have to wait two weeks.
MemberAlliance@use.startmail.com
Tuesday, October 27, 2015, 3:27 PM
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sure glad we don’t live in VOCA. Good question – who gets the money
WHY FEES? We just accept them? Other neighborhoods here don’t have them or require them now WHY DO WE NEED FEES? It takes money to implement the fees, let’s hear the balance ledger justification, let’s hear the justifications.
VOCA property owners pay fees because VOCA is managed by a volunteer board of directors who HIRED an HOA management company to do their jobs. Prior to the property management company, there was an on site employee doing the work for the Architectural Review and Restrictions Committee and an on site accountant doing the work of the treasurer. Now the management company is doing both. The VOCA board CLAIMED the management company would cost less. BUT the way the management company is costing MORE, is through fees and fines individual property owners have to pay. Hate to say, “I told you so.” but we did tell the VOCA homeowners that this would happen. We tried to recall the board but could not get enough support. There will be THREE spots open for board positions in April. If the VOCA property owners cannot get THREE reasonable and financially frugal candidates, the fees and fines and spending will continue.
What is interesting to note is that VOCA is mostly built up. We should be paying LESS not MORE. It would be great if VOCA just ran the golf course (which they claim is profitable and not the financial responsibility of the homeowners) and let the 25 sub-divsions handle their own restrictions and architectural review. It can’t be that difficult. There are some sub-divisons without any lots left to build on so there is little architectural review. Just have the homeowners tell each other when they want to paint their house and agree not to paint it purple.
Don’t buy into the excuse that every thing costs MORE. Sometimes things should cost LESS.