Sunriver Scene July 2026 - Flipbook - Page 36
Letters to the Editor
Vote No on the Transfer Tax
By John Baker
Our home in Sunriver will not be sold anytime soon. It
will be passed on to our heirs. I should therefore be in favor
of the proposed transfer tax because it would impact someone else not me, but I am not. When did we as neighbors
lose our sense of fairness to propose a tax only on those who
buy or sell their Sunriver home for a Capital Improvement
Fund that benefits us all? We all need to pay our fair share. It
is disappointing that our well-meaning SROA board members would consider this an equitable solution and poured
tens of thousands of dollars in CPAs, lawyers, staff time for
most of a year for a problem that could have been solved
merely by raising our HOA dues. It is unjust and deserves
to be defeated. As responsible neighbors, please vote No.
Sustained investment required
By Brad Banta
Sunriver is more than a collection of properties. It is a
shared community built on decades of investment in worldclass amenities, infrastructure, and natural surroundings.
The proposed capital transfer fee represents a fair and
forward-thinking approach to sustaining what makes
Sunriver exceptional.
Every time a property changes hands, a new owner enters
this community and immediately begins benefiting from
the trails, recreation facilities, common areas, and managed
landscapes that existing owners and the association have
funded and maintained over the years. A capital transfer fee
ensures that incoming owners contribute meaningfully to
the capital reserves that preserve and improve these shared
assets, rather than relying solely on those who have been
here for years to shoulder that burden.
This approach is not novel. Transfer fees are used successfully by resort communities across the country to fund
long-term capital needs without placing sudden and heavy
assessment burdens on current residents. It is a one-time,
transaction-based contribution that is predictable, transparent, and tied directly to the moment of value realization
for the buyer.
Sunriver's amenities and infrastructure require sustained
investment. The capital transfer fee is a responsible, equitable mechanism to ensure the community we all love remains
well-funded and vibrant for generations to come.
Protect your right to vote
By Bruce and Jodie Bischof
Do not give away your right to vote.
The transfer tax issue has a major flaw. If passed, the owners will have surrendered their right to vote as there will be
no future elections for all new capital construction projects
such as SHARC. Instead of voting on these critical issues,
future SROA boards and administrative staff will make all
future decisions. SROA’s promotional materials state that “it
is too expensive” to conduct elections. If you want the right
to continue to vote on future projects you must vote No!
SROA transparency
By Scott Brucker
The purpose of this letter to the editor is addressing
assumptions and misinformation surrounding the Capital
Transfer Fee (CTF) and assertions of lack of transparency
from the SROA Board, committees and staff.
I have worked in municipal government and special
districts for 40 years, three states, multiple agencies and
population ranges from 3,000 to 250,000 people. Unfortunately, the common denominator is a large segment
of the population having accurate information based on
verifiable facts.
Based on my experience, SROA is remarkably transparent. With minimal effort and some reading to understand,
it is all available on the SROA website. Budgets, plans,
committees, task forces, minutes, agendas, schedules, how
decisions are made, and how owners guide outcomes; it’s
all there. If that does not satisfy one’s curiosity, I have found
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that board members and SROA staff are willing to take the
time to walk me through it, explain, clarify and even listen
to my objections with interest.
I’m not accusing people of being ignorant or lazy. On
the contrary, I have found homeowners to be curious and
highly educated; just not always informed of the facts versus
rumor, inuendo or assumptions.
This letter is not to advocate yes or no on the CTF, I am
asking that homeowners educate themselves with accurate
and verifiable information and vote as an informed electorate; a necessity of our democracy.
Capital Transfer Fee is unfair. Vote No!
Letter Dennis Smeage and Bette Butler
Capital Transfer Fee is unfair. Vote No!
We purchased a home here in Sunriver in 1998. Having
enjoyed Sunriver’s many amenities during our residency, we
have no argument with the need for future upgrades and
adequate funding for their development. We do, however,
question the fairness of requiring a handful of Sunriver
property owners to foot the bill for major capital improvements that benefit all owners. This disparity is not reflected
in our annual maintenance fee where everyone pays the
same amount. Nor is it reflected in past owner assessments
for major improvements such as the SHARC. Where is the
fairness and equality in this transfer fee proposal?
Although we support the use of an owner-based task force
to research and recommend new amenities for Sunriver, we
think all owners should have a voice in deciding the priorities of these improvements. Giving the SROA Board of
Directors final say as to which capital projects get funded is
concerning. Giving the board a pot of money with questionable accountability to all owners is even more concerning.
Sunriver owners have shown they are receptive to special assessments when they meet the priority needs of our
community. Taxing a handful of sellers on the sale of their
properties is not a fair and viable alternative.
Please join us – Vote No on the Capital Transfer
Fee proposal.
Capital transfer fee is a 'buy-in' to Sunriver
By Robert Gamble
My understanding is that a capital transfer fee – sometimes called a capital contribution fee – is a one-time charge
collected at closing when a property changes ownership.
This fee is dedicated to the community’s long-term infrastructure and reserve funds.
1. Ensuring Generational Equity
The core justification for this fee is fairness between
generations of property owners. Existing residents have
spent years funding, maintaining, and protecting Sunriver’s
established infrastructure. A one-time “buy-in” ensures that
incoming buyers contribute equitably to the community
assets they will immediately enjoy from day one.
2. Preventing Special Assessments
Capital transfer fees inject cash into reserve funds
when property changes hands, minimizing the need for
special assessments.
3. Keeping Monthly Dues Lower
By leveraging real estate transactions to fund long-term
capital reserves, SROA can keep its standard, monthly
operating dues lower and more stable. This makes the
community more attractive to buyers who look closely at
monthly carrying costs.
A Standard Real Estate Practice: This one-time closing
fee is a standard tool utilized by modern master-planned
communities nationwide. It effectively diversifies how a
community funds its future, ensuring that the financial
responsibility for major capital improvements doesn't fall
entirely on the monthly dues of everyday residents.
Sellers will lose if CTF approved
By Eileen Ted Williamson
Please vote No on the Sunriver Transfer Fee, a sales tax
by any definition. If we sold our property for $850,000, we
would owe an extra $4,250 in closing costs.
It is naïve to think a buyer would assume any part of
that debt.
Transfer Tax improvements strengthen a buyer’s investment, but buyers pay nothing to get that benefit. When
you sell, Transfer Tax improvements do not benefit you
plus your home’s sale proceeds are reduced so you get less
than nothing when you pay the tax.
Sunriver Transfer Fee. Vote No.
Buyers and sellers benefit from investment
By John Parmigiani
Vote Yes on Capital Transfer Fee
The proposed Capital Transfer Fee (CTF) deserves strong
support. Sunriver competes with many high-quality resort
communities. To remain a premier destination and to protect the value of our properties, we must continue to invest
in our infrastructure, amenities and overall experience.
The CTF provides a practical, forward-looking way to
fund capital improvements. It allows our community to
act more efficiently and effectively, ensuring that needed
investments can be made in a timely and well-managed
way. Some may argue that a transfer fee could inhibit sales.
The opposite is more likely.
A well-maintained, continually improving community
is more attractive to buyers and supports stronger selling
prices. That means both buyers and sellers benefit from the
investment. These improvements enhance Sunriver’s appeal
and strengthen property values, providing a solid return
on the fee over time. It is a sound investment in Sunriver’s
long-term vitality and desirability. A healthy, well-funded
community serves all of us who own here.
Vote Yes on the Capital Transfer Fee.
Make the fee voluntary
By Jim Nevin
Regarding the proposed Sunriver transfer fee, I fully
understand from the letters and discussions that there are
two sides to this issue with differing reasons. Upon analysis,
it seems to me that most fair and logical arguments are
against the fee. However, I think I have the perfect solution to resolve this issue that will satisfy everyone on both
sides: Make the fee voluntary! Those owners selling their
Sunriver property that wish to contribute to future Sunriver
improvements (which they will never see or enjoy), may
do so at the closing of their sale. They can feel good about
themselves. Other owners selling their property can simply
opt out and pay no fee if they so choose. Think of it like
making a voluntary contribution to your favorite charity.
What could be more fair and equitable?
Increase maintenance fee, oppose CTF
By Tom Kelley
I am writing in opposition to the proposed Capital Transfer Fee. The need to fund additional capital expenditures
is real and worthwhile. The issue is how to pay for them.
The proposal of a 0.5% fee assessed on home sales will add
another fee to sales negotiations meaning the sellers will
suffer the consequences and never benefit from the capital
expenditures. As was stated in the open meeting on May 23,
“Be selfish. If you don’t sell, you never have to pay this fee.”
That does not seem fair. Though some resorts have this fee,
none of the local resorts in Central Oregon do. The Sunriver
Resort will likely never pay this fee as the only two sales of
the resort were in 1974 and 1993. I support an increase
in the maintenance fee. Then we all pay about $200 per
property per year and this would include Sunriver Resort.
Do your homework and support SROA
By Holly Lekas
Fellow Sunriver owners,
We own homes in Sunriver because it is a premier central
Oregon community. Our board, current and past, deserve
our gratitude and respect for the excellent way they have
managed our community. They have maintained and
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