In Jan. 24 opinions section, Mr. Rolph condemns the Recreation Centers of Sun City board with false and misguided statements. First, I’m not a board member or an employee of RCSC. However, I find it exhausting to see people exaggerate and misrepresent the character or actions of hard working volunteers.
The amount of time and effort that these volunteers give to our community does not warrant such belittlement. Mr. Rolph says there is nothing to stop the board from forcing Sun City owners to pay $1,000 per month assessment fees.
This exaggerated opinion is so incendiary without evidence it is shameful. Apparently, he has a lack of knowledge about RCSC and its board. Last year’s Budget and Finance Committee, operating under the guidance of board members, reviewed the RCSC finance director’s budget proposal. It was found Sun City employees were underpaid compared to nearby communities. It also found prior management failed to maintain properties to the tune of $20 million of deferred maintenance. So, naturally, the committee (made up of residents) decided it was appropriate to fairly pay employees, increase maintenance and adjust for inflation.
If Mr. Rolph thinks that RCSC is unfairly raising assessment fees, he should compare us to other Sun City developments that pay six times our fees. He should look over the history of fee increases and see that they don’t do it every year or without prudence. When will people realize they have a good thing going and say thank you?
Mr. Rolph calls the PIF (preservation and improvement fee charged at sale of a home) a buy-in fee to the “secret handshake club.” There is nothing secret and I have no idea what motivates this comment. Consider that most people in the western states pay $5,000 to 6,000 per year for property taxes. We pay much less property taxes in Sun City. So, paying a RCSC fee one time for ownership saves you $60,000 in 10 years compared to other states.
He asked if RCSC audits and provides full disclosure to property owners. Check the website. Not only are monthly financial statements published on the public website, board members (residents) have reviewed with the auditors the results and reports. There is oversight.
He calls the assessments “one sided, forced” fees. They are not forced. They are agreed upon when taking the title of your home. You are not forced to sign the title documents. No one is forced to live in a recreational adult community. If you didn’t move here for the recreational facilities and don’t appreciate the low cost of use, then you shouldn’t have selected Sun City in the first place. Check out Youngtown.
The only accurate statement I could find in Mr. Rolph’s complaints was that if one doesn’t like the operations of RCSC they can move away. I believe Mr. Rolph has not done proper research on 55-plus communities and compared the value he gets for his money. His statements were intended to incense the reader with little factual information. Maybe he wanted to create an opportunity for me to explain how good we have it and that our recent board and management is doing a good job of providing for its members. If so, thank you Mr. Rolph, for demonstrating the need for more research/analysis before people complain.
