Setting the record straight on Sun City West budget comments

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OPINION — On page 5 of the May 27, 2026, edition of the Independent, commentary is attributed to me at a recent board meeting. The comments are not complete and are missing context.

In regard to persistent overbudgeting and underspending, this practice has gone on for years, and I’ve been vocal about it. But the message just doesn’t seem to be understood by the recreation centers.

So here it is, one last time: The budget for salaries and wages includes the cost of phantom employees that residents pay for.

For years, our community has consistently had an average of 15 to 20 open jobs year after year. They include the potential cost of every one of those jobs in the budget, despite knowing they won’t be filled.

As of the end of April, the surplus was $1.2 million, with every penny from our dues. Does this go right into reserves as is claimed? Not quite, for reasons too long and complicated to review here.

Next, “(Bagnato) … said the notion of a special assessment for future unknowns is another money grab by the administration.” Not quite. What I said was the idea that an extra $20 annually, conveniently added to dues instead of being subject to a resident vote as a special assessment is a money grab.

Why? Because those funds are supposed to be a set aside for some master plan bling idea. No one can tell us what that bling is, when it’s going to be purchased and what it’s going to cost. It’s kind of like going to the grocery store and being told you’ll have to prepay now for next year’s groceries even though you don’t know what you will buy, when you’ll buy it or what it will cost.

Who would agree to that? I suspect none of you, nor should you.

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