May 2026 Sunriver Scene - Flipbook - Page 4
Sunriver
SROA treasurer
report:
Contact your board at sroaboard@srowners.org
sroa president’s message
First quarter
Frequently Asked Committee and staff. This in- above examples are not cheap. financial update
Questions (FAQs) cludes participation by many To be successful we will need
OWNERS ASSOCIATION
Gre e t i n g s a n d
happy spring to all
owners and visitors.
and is a living docuSome of you are
ment that can be
aware of a lawsuit
updated as addirecently filed by
tional questions are
Sunriver owner Perasked and answered.
From a board persida Myers against Bill Burke
SROA, Sunriver Respective, passage of
sort, and other defendants. The the Capital Transfer Fee is
case, Myers v. Sunriver Owners about the future of Sunriver.
Association, et al., is currently But to address the future, it
pending in Deschutes County helps to understand the past.
Circuit Court. We promptly Historically, current and past
notified our insurance carrier owners have supported necesof the suit, which has appointed sary improvements and funding
experienced legal counsel to through the creation of the Rerepresent SROA.
serve Fund, necessary increases
Ms. Myers first made formal in maintenance fees and a
claims against SROA in 2019, special assessment for SHARC
and SROA has successfully (aquatics, fitness center, comdefended against those claims munity rooms, amphitheater).
to date. While we are still rePast owner support has
viewing this latest lawsuit, we helped to address issues such as
would like to reassure you that deferred maintenance; pathway
the board is committed to de- upgrades and pathway tunnel
fending the claims responsibly replacements; road improveand in accordance with our ments; owner pool replacement;
governing documents and ap- upgrades to parks; plus, new inplicable law. The board also frastructure and amenities such
remains focused on day-to-day as the boat launch and pickoperations, financial stability, leball facilities. Imagine what
and the long-term well-being Sunriver would look like today
of the community.
if owners had not stepped up to
Let’s call attention to the July- support these needs? Imagine
August annual election cycle what our local economy (restauand a specific ballot measure to rants, grocery stores and other
be included.
small businesses, etc.) would
The Capital Transfer Fee bal- look like if Sunriver had not
lot measure has been authorized focused on continual improveby the SROA Board based upon ment and sustained relevance
the recommendation of the Fi- over the years? What would our
nance Committee and extensive valued local nonprofits such at
the Sunriver Nature Center
review at the board level.
The goal is to generate fund- or Sunriver Music Festival
ing for future amenities. It look like if our community
is a method commonly used did not retain relevance in a
by other HOAs around the competitive world of resort
country. If passed by owners, communities? As various issues
it could help alleviate draining surrounding amenities arise we
our reserves, further increasing can view them as opportunimaintenance fees, or creating ties for maintaining Sunriver
additional special assessments. as a premier residential and
Specific information about resort community.
how this Capital Transfer Fee
For years SROA’s (i.e., owner
would work are referenced funded) finances have been
within this and future editions well managed as evidenced by
of the Scene and can been our clean audits. Credit for
found at sunriverowners.org/ this should be extended to past
capitalfee. The website includes and current boards, the Finance
volunteer owners who joined
in developing other building
blocks for continued success
such as the 2030 Strategic Plan,
Pathway Master Plan and Infrastructure and Amenities Master
Plan, amongst others.
We are currently in sound financial shape for operating and
maintaining existing amenities,
infrastructure and services that
we offer owners and guests. At
the same time, we also recognize
that we are in a competitive
world with many other resorts
in Central Oregon and elsewhere: Brasada Ranch, Caldera
Springs, Tetherow, Pronghorn/
Juniper Preserve, Lake Creek
Lodge as well as older developments such Broken Top, Eagle
Crest, Crosswater and Black
Butte Ranch.
SROA has done a good job of
requesting owner input through
participation on many task
forces, owner surveys, online forums and monthly board work
sessions and business meetings.
We have identified additional
wants, needs and priorities
through planning efforts such
as the Annual Work Plan and
Capital Projects Plan in the
fall of each year. The latter two
have identified significant and
costly projects such as the Circle
2-3 pathway construction (a
long-identified safety issue),
additional park upgrades (Fort
Rock Park), development of
new parks, indoor court facilities, additional meeting rooms
and an expanded fitness center.
Completion of these, and other
projects, will not only enhance
near-term livability but will also
make Sunriver attractive as an
investment for you, your family and future owners whether
you are a full-time resident (est.
20%), part-time second home
owner (40%), or own a rental
property (40%).
We have identified many
“wants” and “needs.” At the
same time, we need to live
within our means, and the
additional sources of revenue.
Passage of the Capital Transfer
Fee will be a major step toward
completing projects that will
keep Sunriver ahead of the pack
in today’s competitive world.
Let’s not allow contentment
with Sunriver’s success to slip
into complacency.
We encourage all owners
to take the time to examine
the ballot measure and obtain
information and benefits of
this step for you and our community. There is already a page
on the website with FAQs.
Other opportunities to obtain
fact-based information includes
attending the June 23 Sunriver
You Forum, show up at the May
or June Owner Happy Hour or
chat with other owners.
Ballots for both the Capital
Transfer Fee and board candidate election will be sent out in
early July and the election closes
Aug. 8 at noon. Results will be
posted shortly thereafter.
Finally, a reminder about
fire protection for Sunriver
and neighboring communities. We just experienced an
extremely poor winter snowfall
season resulting in increased
concerns about extended risk
and length of this year’s fire and
smoke season.
As noted in current, past and
ongoing Scene reporting, owner
notices and other encouragement for owners to reduce
the risks not only for our own
homes but for our neighbors,
businesses and facilities.
We all need to be aware
and do our part in reducing
those risks.
Suggestions for how to do
your part were listed in the April
Scene and on the SROA website
at www.sunriverowners.org/
propertypreparedness.
Please pay particular attention to things, even the simple
things, that you can do to
protect your home in the areas
of home hardening and ladder
fuel reduction.
Monthly meeting highlights, actions of the SROA Board of Directors
The Sunriver Owners Association (SROA) Board of Directors meeting was held Saturday,
April 18, 2026.
Board members present:
Bill Burke, Pam Hays, Keith
Mobley, Clark Pederson, Linda Beard, Roni Jacknow (via
Zoom), Randy Schneider, Dale
Harrison and Brad Banta (via
Zoom).
Staff present: James LewPage 4
is, Susan Berger, Keith Wallach and Richie Villagrana.
SROA Financial Report
Year to date through March 31, 2026 (unaudited)
Total Operating Revenue ................................... $3,568,476
Owners forums (summarized)
Total
Operating Expenses* ................................ $3,592,928
From April 17 work session
Operating Surplus / (Deficit) ............................. ($24,452)
• Margi Fraser noted concerns
*Reserve Fund Contribution: $1,009,063
over the sewer rates charged by
Sunriver Utilities. She stated
that rates in Sunriver are much Portland, Ore.
during periods when he is not
higher than other communities
• Scott Milhous shared that in Sunriver when his water is
in the state and she pays more his water bill from Sunriver turned off or not being used,
for her Sunriver home than in Utilities is exceedingly high
MAY 2026 SUNRIVER SCENE
Turn to Highlights, page 5
By Clark Pederson
How do SROA finances
look at the end of the first
quarter of 2026 versus our
budget? I am pleased to
report that our finances
are in good shape.
For the quarter ending
March 31, 2026, there was
a net operating deficit of
$24,452 which was $42,983
better than the budget.
A portion of our income arrives during the middle of the
year when SHARC is busy and
private individuals are paying
for admission and owners have
completed their purchase of
Member Preference Program
cards, so it is not unusual for us
to be operating at a net deficit
early in the year.
In our day-to-day operating
account, revenues year-to-date
are under budget $28,652.
This is due to below budget
Recreational Plus Program
(RPP), revenue, SSD vehicles
repairs and event sponsorship.
The RPP sales are five fewer
than budget.
RPP prices are based on
the number of bedrooms and
range from $2,070 for a two
bedroom, $3,450 for a four
bedroom, $4,830 for a six
bedroom and $6,210 for an
eight-bedroom home.
Member Preference Program
(MPP) sales are 127 more than
last year, a positive year to date.
Last year, MPP sales were
less than expected so we will be
watching whether more owners
are seeing the value of a MPP
card or they are just purchasing
them earlier in the year.
Operating account expenses were under budget by
$71,260. Salaries and burden
(employee benefits) were under budget $24,452, largely a
result of unfilled staff positions
in recreation.
Materials and ser vices
were under budget $46,442
due to savings in rules enforcement, advertising and
contract services.
Sales of MPP and RPP are
50.9% and 89.1% of our budget forecast.
On the non-operating side,
both revenues and expenses
were close to budget for the
first quarter.
A portion of revenue for both
operating and non-operating
is interest income on cash balances and reserves.
Our investment portfolio for both operating and
non-operating funds is
Turn to Treasurer, page 5
