Sunriver Scene July 2026 - Flipbook - Page 4
Sunriver
OWNERS ASSOCIATION
SROA treasurer
report:
Contact your board at sroaboard@srowners.org
sroa president’s message
The proposed Capital
SROA amenities as proposed can only be used sip and social media that the Transfer Fee
are and have been for new amenities, equipment CTF is not legal. In actuality,
Of importance to
all owners and our
community is the
provided by owners
annual election (balthrough payment
of our maintenance
lots out in early July
fees, and in a few
and election closes
cases, special purAug. 8). Three canpose assessments.
didates are vying for Bill Burke
We have always
the three openings on
the SROA Board: Kara Kerker, run lean budgets which keep
John Vogel, and John Hitt. our fees low, in contrast to
Please take note of background other comparable communiinformation on all three in the ties. SROA also has an ongoing
June Scene, this month’s Scene reputation as being well manand the opportunity to view the aged both in day-to-day operaCandidate Forum from June tions and financial responsibil29. While the three candidates ity as reflected in formal audits
are assured success since the (see June 2025 Audit Report
three board positions are open, at www.sunriverowners.org/
it is important for owners to boarddocuments) and owner
understand the perspectives of surveys (91% good to excellent
the candidates, so please tune approval rating in 2024 Comin. Please see page 3 for more prehensive Owners Survey).
information about this years'
This brings us to the current
candidates.
ballot measure before ownAs most of you already know, ers on the Board and Finance
the amenities provided by the Committee recommended
Sunriver Owners Association Capital Transfer Fee (CTF).
(SROA) include: 34 miles of This is about the future of
paved, well-maintained path- Sunriver in a competitive world
ways; SHARC aquatics center; of similar resort and residential
the SROA boat launch at the communities. We cannot be
Marina; tennis and pickleball complacent and rest on our
courts; SHARC meeting rooms laurels. The owners and visitors
and event space; owner only ac- of today and tomorrow will be
cess to Mary McCallum Park; looking for a range of amenithe SHARC Fitness Center and ties that go beyond our curthe Hosmer Living Room and rent world-class offerings. Put
patio, among other amenities. simply, Sunriver needs a new
Beyond these, we have plenti- source of revenue to sustain
ful access to publicly owned relevance going forward.
The Capital Transfer Fee
forests, lakes and trails.
and infrastructure that will
provide a direct benefit to
current and future owners. It
cannot be used for staff salaries
and benefits, operating costs,
replacement of existing capital
assets or maintaining existing
amenities. Those costs would
be addressed through the regular budgeting process.
It will allow us to build highcost amenities that have been
identified as wants or needs
by our owners. It would apply
a 0.5% fee to home sales and
applies only to transactions that
include an exchange of moneys. Paper transactions such as
transfers to family members, to
trust, etc., are exempted.
The CTF passage would
amend the Consolidated
Plan. Contrary to rumors
in the community, any future increases would have to
be put to a vote of all owners,
again amending the Consolidated Plan.
More information can be
found in the election mailing
(Voters Pamphlet), within
recent and current Scene Treasurer Reports, and at the SROA
website (including an FAQs
section at www.sunriverowners.
org/capitalfee).
There is some incorrect information floating about that
should be dispelled. First, there
is some banter in letters, gos-
a review of related Oregon statutes by legal counsel indicates
municipalities and counties
cannot adopt a CTF. Sunriver
is not a city. We are a 501(c)(4),
nonprofit planned community.
A Capital Transfer Fee is legal
for Sunriver.
Secondly, there is some chatter that decisions as to what
high-cost amenities the CTF
revenue could be dedicated to
would be determined solely by
the Board and staff, without
owner input. While ultimately
it is the Board’s responsibility
(elected by owners) to provide
budget approval for such items,
SROA has an extensive history
of seeking owner input.
This comes in several ways.
Over the last several years
several building blocks for the
future have been developed: the
2024 Strategic Plan, the 2023
Parks and Recreation Master
Plan, the 2022 Pathway Master
Plan, the 2024 Comprehensive
Survey, among others. Many of
the building blocks included
owner surveys, the results of
which were included in the
publications. Aiding the effort
in development of these initiatives has been the participation
of owners: full-time residents
(roughly 20% of homes); second homeowners (40%); and
owners contributing more.
• Brenda McCarthy spoke
in favor of the CTF. She noted
the inaccurate information on
social media. She believes the
CTF is fair in comparison to
other options where homes
of different sized have different impacts in comparison
to raising maintenance fees
which is the same cost to all
owners regardless of the impact
of the home.
• Sharon Konopa is in favor
of the CTF. She believes the
funds are needed not to develop
amenities, but to protect past
investments in Sunriver. She
believes no option previously
examined is entirely fair for a
variety of reasons but that the
By Clark Pederson
Using reserve funds for large
capital projects not a sustainable idea.
A critic of the proposed
Capital Transfer Fee (CTF)
has suggested that, given the
current level of our reserve
funds, the CTF is unnecessary
and that Reserve funds could
instead be used to finance improvements. That approach is
not sustainable.
To understand why, it is
important to look at the purpose of Reserve funds. SROA
accumulates Reserve funds to
pay for the replacement of existing Sunriver assets. In 2026,
Reserve funds have been used,
or are scheduled to be used, to
paint the interior of SHARC,
replace pool heaters, purchase
replacement loader vehicles,
a boom truck, and an SUV
for the Public Works Department. The budget also includes
$900,000 for road and pathway
repair and replacement.
Reserve funds are also scheduled to support ladder fuel
reduction on common lands
at a cost of $502,000, as well as
the River Road pathway tunnel
project at $613,800.
Every SROA-owned asset
with a useful life of three to 30
years and a cost of $3,000 or
more is included in the Reserve
Study. Each item has an estimated useful life, a replacement
schedule, and an estimated
replacement cost.
The Consolidated Plan of
Sunriver directs the Board to
achieve a Reserve threshold
funding level of 70% to 100%
by 2042.
We are currently in a strong
position, having achieved a
78% funding level. Our December 2025 reserve balance
was $13.3 million. However,
we cannot be complacent about
that progress.
As discussed in the April
treasurer’s column, several factors could change that funding
level. First, a new Reserve Study
is being conducted this summer, with a report expected in
August. If replacement costs
increase because of inflation
or oil prices, our funding level
percentage will decrease.
Second, SHARC replacement items have been supported by a dedicated special reserve
fund, paid for by owners who
chose the 15-year payment
plan. Those payments end in
January 2027. Going forward,
SHARC replacement costs will
come from the general reserve
Turn to Highlights, page 5
Turn to Treasurer, page 5
Turn to President, page 5
Monthly meeting highlights, actions of the SROA Board of Directors
The Sunriver Owners Association (SROA) Board of
Directors meeting was held
Saturday, June 20, 2026.
Board members present: Bill
Burke, Pam Hays, Keith Mobley (via Zoom), Clark Pederson
(via Zoom), Linda Beard, Roni
Jacknow (via Zoom), Dale
Harrison and Brad Banta.
Staff present: James Lewis,
Keith Wallach, Richie Villagrana.
Owners forums
(summarized)
From June 19 work session
• Paul Conte commented
on two issues. 1.) The proposed amendments to the
Design Manual as submitted
by the Design Committee as
well as the Design Committee
responses to his questions. 2.)
The number of tree protection barriers at Winners Circle
park – why is the number there
(allowed for an SROA facility)
greater than what is allowed for
homeowners?
• Chris Martin had questions related to a lawsuit filed
Page 4
against SROA et. al., specifically as related to the Resorts
golf membership actions. He
suggested an update to owners.
• Doug and Sarah Dulak
suggested that SROA construct
“ball walls” as part of the overall
recreational amenities (walls
where tennis, pickleball can be
practiced as an individual).
• Elliot Fries asked when the
board will be discussing the
rules regarding skateboard use
and potentially allowing such
on the pathways.
• Jim Melamed commented
on two issues. 1) The proposed
CTF. 2.) Access to Resort golf
courses. 1.) He believes that the
CTF is unfair and asked about
the fairness to the Resort on
this issue. 2.) He believes the
lack of general access to the
Resort golf courses is unfair
and believes owners have a
legal right of access as in the
past format.
• Eric Turner had concerns
about the lack of access to
Sunriver golf due to membership actions taken by the
Sunriver Resort. He believes
JULY 2026 SUNRIVER SCENE
SROA Financial Report
Year to date through May 31, 2026 (unaudited)
Total Operating Revenue ................................... $6,011,071
Total Operating Expenses* ................................ $6,068,485
Operating Surplus / (Deficit) ............................. ($57,414)
*Reserve Fund Contribution: $1,681,771
that it is injurious to all entities
in Sunriver. He also believes
that it hurts rental properties
and reduces the number of
visitors coming to Sunriver
– which is detrimental to all
Sunriver businesses.
• Richard Jaccarino has concerns about pond #9 on the
Woodlands golf course – the
current conditions, noxious
weeds, etc. He believes it is
mismanaged.
• Steve Pearson commented
in opposition to the CTF. He
does not feel it is equitable to
all properties in all situations.
He stated that if an individual
property is sold multiple times
to another property that may
sell fewer times over the same
time period, the property sold
more frequently ends up with
