Unmasking the Lies: A Closer Look at the Controversial 2026 Budget

The Flawed 2026 Budget

A budget is more than just a financial document; it is a crucial blueprint that will significantly impact homeowners. Therefore, it must be accurate. Our 2026 Budget is nothing like that, as it contains many flaws that were pointed out, yet ignored by the board. Attempts to scrutinize the proposed budget by Jim Young were ignored and deflected by the board.

Over the years, concerns have existed regarding the transparency of the budgetary process. Homeowners expressed unease over what they sense as attempts by board members to obscure critical truths surrounding budget decisions. This year is no different. The lack of clarity raises vital concerns about fiduciary duty, accountability, and the direction in which community resources are headed. Transparency is essential when it pertains to financial matters that directly affect the financial well-being of residents. Yet the debate surrounding the 2026 budget has been ignored by the current board.

Board Members' Deceptive Tactics

The actions taken by board members regarding the 2026 budget have raised significant concerns among homeowners, particularly in the area of transparency and honesty. Various deceptive tactics have been employed to mislead homeowners about budget allocations and the financial stability of the community. One of the most alarming strategies has been dismissing critiques from concerned homeowners without addressing the core issues raised. This tactic undermines the platform for constructive discourse and breeds distrust.

In several instances, board members have resorted to issuing erroneous or blanket statements or vague reassurances instead of providing detailed justifications for budgetary decisions. By evading direct questions and not engaging with dissenting viewpoints, they have effectively silenced those who seek clarity and accountability. For example, when questions arose about cost increases in community services, board members respond with deflection, citing 'rising prices' at Publix. We all know that Publix is not an indicator of the economy, nor is it a marker for the construction industry or any transactions the HOA will engage with. This lack of knowledge, combined with deceptiveness, shows a lapse in good judgment and the ignorance of our current board members. The implications of these deceptive tactics are eroding all trust in the board's capability and willingness to act in the best interest of the homeowners.

Homeowners Speak Out: Voices Against Corruption

Since October, a growing wave of discontent has surged among the homeowners regarding the decisions made in the controversial 2026 budget. Many residents feel a palpable sense of betrayal, having watched our community's financial well-being placed at the mercy of questionable fiscal maneuvers. The continuing excessive expenditures and mismanagement of funds coming from the board has left many homeowners feeling disenfranchised.

Many homeowners have expressed significant frustrations over transparency and the lack of accountability from the board. Many argue that the decisions made do not reflect the needs and priorities of the community, resulting in a disconnect that homeowners find unacceptable. "We deserve to know where our money is going, and we expect those in charge to act in our best interest. We can't accept $20,000 for 'doorknobs and whatever,'" stated one homeowner. A change of board members is urgently necessary for sustaining the community's future.

Increasing participation in local governance is vital for holding board members accountable and ensuring that homeowners’ concerns are heard and prioritized. Online platforms like Nextdoor are becoming increasingly popular as homeowners seek effective channels to articulate their opinions. Yet our board stifles those who try and chastises those who voice their opinions.

The Importance of Transparency and Accountability

Open dialogue between board members and ALL residents is crucial for fostering trust. Currently, the board only considers the opinions of their friends. The recent discussions surrounding the 2026 budget highlight the need for clear communication regarding financial decisions and the potential impacts on all homeowners.

Both board members and homeowners must prioritize the need for transparency and accountability. But the current board fails in those respects. They only allow a person three minutes to speak, and the response from the board is included in those three minutes. Our homeowners do not feel informed or respected. They no longer attend community events and board meetings. The way forward hinges on collaboration and proactive engagement. That would only be possible by replacing the current board.

The board members are so desperate to hide the truth from the homeowners and push their corrupt and deeply flawed budget through that they lied and went to exorbitant, despicable lengths of bull-crap in a low, and underhanded attempt to hide the NextDoor posts on the 2026 budget issues.

They don't want homeowners to know the truth. They want owners to accept their lies. What's even sadder is that none of those cowards had the brains or guts to challenge Jim on NextDoor. This includes: bruce richard, jean legrys, anita brown, marianne regan, joann orlando, jess Kaufman, mike format, and their usual cult-like followers. They know Jim is right and know he can cut through their smokescreens of lies.

Below is the post Jim Young placed on NextDoor that they didn't want you to see. They are trying everything they can to keep homeowners uninformed, misinformed, and snowballed with their lies and ineptness.
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One of the inflated costs in the ill-fated 2026 proposed budget contains a line item of $28,000 for R&M to the clubhouse, which in previous years was just $8,000. The board wants to increase it by $20,000 to $28,000 for what was described by a board member as "little miscellaneous items here and there; a new doorknob, a new whatever." (audio attached) One of the significant issues is that this is a redundant expense that is already incorporated in an inflated line item for R&M (Repairs and Maintenance) to the clubhouse on another ledger code for Reserve contributions, where an inflated amount of $120,000 is listed, rather than the prescribed $80,000, as per a Reserve Study performed in 2022. This is a prime example of capricious and whimsical spending that needs to be ended, as well as this duplicate and inflated expense removed from the budget.

Two notable comments were made by board members, Anita Brown and Joann Orlando, during the October 14 budget proposal meeting.

1) "$14 a quarter is $7 per month."

2) "It doesn't matter if we're right."

I don't know about you, but a quarter of a year is three months. Not two.
Doing the third-grade math, $14 divided by 3 is $4.67, and a quarter is three months. Not two.

If these two crackpots can't do basic third-grade division with small numbers in their small heads, they have no business handling our money or being on the board. When people are handling my money, I do expect them to know how to do math, and I do expect them to be right. I would worry if they felt that being right didn't matter.

Most of the debate during the town hall meeting on the budget was convoluted, confusing, and contained a lot of specious arguments and comments from the board. I write this because hardly anyone finished a sentence or a thought before starting another one. They got so involved trying to pretend they know what they are talking about that they got lost in their own confusing statements that drifted everywhere. Although they tried to appear they were making valid statements, their statements were actually false and fallacious upon closer examination. They tried to rely on deceptive reasoning and rhetoric to seem plausible, although their logic was flawed. They gave perfect examples of this all night long.

I can't help but challenge what was said by jean legrys during the proposed budget meeting. The Reserve Study was done during 2022 (two years after COVID-19), yet she made a false claim that COVID "outdated" the Reserve Study and wants to assume a universal increase of all costs by 25%. First, the Reserve Study was done after COVID. Secondly, to make an unsubstantiated claim that all costs increased by 25% is absurd. That's not smart, responsible, or rational. It's just stupid.

The current board now seems more out of control with their continuing unplanned and unnecessary spending spree to replace entry doors to the clubhouse so that the two handicapped people who live in our community, but never go to the clubhouse, can press a button to open doors. It's just more thing to go wrong. Plus, if they did go to the clubhouse, they would go with someone who would open doors for them and wheel them around. But this thought didn't even enter their heads!

About six years ago, the board voted to buy a $3,800 lift that can transfer a handicapped person into the pool. That lift was NEVER used (records proved it) during the two years we had it. Plus, extra batteries were purchased for an additional $500. Everything was sold at a loss two years later.

The board members just want to continually and whimsically spend money we don't have or need to spend. When a responsible and reasonable person has a debt to pay back, they would curtail their spending spree in order to pay their debt, wouldn't they? Would a reasonable person in debt go out and spend more money on things they want but don't need? NOOO. It would be financial suicide. The capricious spending by our board needs to stop immediately. That way, the loan can be repaid WITHOUT overburdening homeowners. Otherwise, their reckless decisions will put us deeper in debt.

Replacing doors and bathrooms that work are bad ideas, and won't add value to our homes. High expenses and high debt will decrease home values. Nobody wants to move into a community with high dues and high debt. The budget spreadsheet is inadequate; it miscalculates, it is amateurish, flawed, and needs to be replaced with a proper spreadsheet.

Here are more concerns from the homeowners ... In the October newsletter, the board presented a rosy view of the Reserves, boasting that cash on hand is $826,116 as of 2025. In the treasurer's report ending August 31, the cash on hand is shown as $796,379. (see attached) Yet during the exchange in this audio clip, the board claims there is only about $300,000 left. This does not match up with the board's statement and financial statement that are in the October newsletter. Although the $145k payment for the roof can be deducted from those numbers, that does not leave $300k as stated by a board member.

Seems certain board members change their story depending on the circumstance that fits their needs. I would choose to believe financial documents. Numbers don't lie ... Board members lie.

I'm also uncomfortable when conflicting information is given.

Secondly, during the verbal exchange, a board member (joann or anita) further stated that if the $200,000 loan is paid back, there will be about $100,000 left. The thing with this is that the statement is not correct or accurate. The $200,000 does not need to be paid right away, and the quarterly contributions will more than cover the debt by the time each of the payments comes due. Do they look at their mortgage statement and see an outstanding balance of hundreds of thousands of dollars and think that needs to be paid immediately, too? Their specious arguments are so ridiculous that you have to shake your head in disgust. Why are these fools on the board?

Sounds like these two board members don't seem to understand that the $200,000 doesn't need to be paid right away. We have six months to pay part of it early, or pay it all in twenty (20) more months. Either way, there's plenty of time to build the reserves so that the loan can be paid back without having to do a SPECIAL ASSESSMENT or dramatically raise dues. But there won't be any money remaining if they keep spending it on capricious "wants."

During the meeting, Joanie Bracco asked for clarification of the Reserves, yet was met with conflicting information and a dismissive attitude from board members anita brown and joann orlando. The typical tone of the replies from these two is why many people don't want to attend board meetings. The board seems to have their own opinion and rejects any and all opposing ideas.

What's the use of going to a board meeting if you are going to be disrespected or ignored? Is that their strategy to keep people away so they can only hear from their friends and supporters blowing smoke up their ass?

The majority of homeowners feel they have been alienated and disinfranchised, while the very few who support the board are allowed to speak without being condemned or interrupted.

The homeowners need to remember this despicable treatment during the next election. We need to get rid of this cancer.

Remember this, both jean legrys and anita brown wrecked their own personal finances so badly that they both lost their homes in foreclosures. We also have documentation that jess kaufman had a long history of not paying his debts and credit cards for decades. Since he moved into our community, at least two more credit card companies have gone after him to the tune of well over $40,000.00 in recent years. We cannot let these people ruin our finances as well.

The board members appear intent on preventing homeowners from becoming fully informed about the 2026 budget. In doing so, they have taken extraordinary steps to suppress discussion, including attempting to conceal Nextdoor posts addressing significant budget concerns that are scheduled to be discussed during Tuesday's, October 28, board meeting.

Homeowners deserve transparency and factual information. Instead, they are being asked to accept statements that are inconsistent, misleading, or unsupported.

Notably, no board member has attempted to address or rebut these concerns directly on Nextdoor. This includes Bruce Richard, Jean Legrys, Anita Brown, Marianne Regan, Joann Orlando, Jess Kaufman, Mike Dormat, and several of their consistent supporters. The absence of engagement suggests an unwillingness to openly discuss or defend the figures and decisions being presented.

Homeowners should carefully consider these issues during the next board election. Fiscal responsibility, transparency, and respectful engagement must be restored for the long-term health of the community.