SAMLARC 2019 Budget Priorities – Family Fest or Pool Lifeguards?

It seems contradictory that SAMLARC, the Rancho Santa Margarita “master homeowners association, would consider the RSM Chamber of Commerce more important than their own 14,000+ members, but like the old saying in politics – “Follow the Money!” - that seems to be the case here.

The current SAMLARC Board of Directors has approved the 2019 Budget found on SAMLARC.org (you must be a member and login to get to the document) with the following changes from 2018 to 2019:

Community Programs

Rancho Family Fest (RSM Chamber of Commerce) Increases from zero up to $10,000

SAMLARC Pool Lifeguard Service Cut $77,658 (70%) from $110,502 down to $32,844

How does SAMLARC cut the Pool Lifeguard budget? By eliminating weekday lifeguard service for the ENTIRE SUMMER at all the SAMLARC Pools.

There will be NO Lifeguard service Monday – Friday for

Altisima Park

Arroyo Vista Park

Monte Vista Park

Solano Park

NONE of these four pools will have Lifeguard Service Monday – Friday for the ENTIRE SUMMER – apparently to save money, yet there is still $10,000 in the budget for Rancho Family Fest, a RSM Chamber of Commerce program? Can’t this current Board of Directors find some money, beginning with that $10,000, to provide Lifeguard Services to keep our kids safe at our own community pools? Do we pay our SAMLARC fees to fund other events but can’t keep our kids safe at our own pools?

The entire board, including the four board members currently running for re-election, showed their priorities when they unanimously supported their budget, which can be found at the SAMLARC.org website, funding Rancho Fest over Lifeguards – is that what you want from your SAMLARC Board or is it time for a change? Check your mail for your candidate statements and vote your conscience for your community and your neighbors kids when they are at our pools.

In my opinion there have been a number of questionable budget decisions over the last couple years with SAMLARC, which is why I'm going to be voting for Ted Robertson in the upcoming election. He's a former board member and one of the best financial hawks we've ever had on the board. The SAMLARC vote counting is unusual, make sure to read my previous article that details how it works.