HOA paying builder's bill?

My neighborhood (in South Carolina) is about 2 years old and construction is ongoing (Phase II is just beginning with utilities so we have a ways to go). The builder and whomever he appoints are still the Board of Directors for the HOA and we have a property management company overseeing everything. I requested a copy of the 2015 budget a little while ago and noticed a line item for "Phone Bill" in the "Building and Grounds" category. This cateogry also included landscape, pool maintenance, etc. I'm not sure what this is actually for; the builder does have a model home with an agent on site 7 days a week and I assume it's for the phone there. If that's the case, is that a usual practice? There are two line items for Electric and Water/Sewer with nothing budgeted. There is another category for "Administrative" costs, which includes the management fee, so it doesn't look like the phone bill belongs in the same category as actually running the HOA. I would like some opinions before I call to inquire.

OK, never thought of that! It would be helpful if the line item was a little more precise, I guess. Thank you; I'll check.

We owners pay the phone bill of our mgr., so maybe it's for that. We also pay for her copier, etc. You might want to review the mgmt. contract which will spell out these things. Our line items for these are under a general category called something like Management & Administrative. So the category your phone bill is in is confusing.

Don't know about yours, Susan, but there's no requirement for a phone at our pool.

Thanks, PitA, but neither says if the laws are about public or private pools. In fact when I read the wording of some states, they seems to be talking about public pools.

At the Davis-stirling.com web site on Pools, it appears that if we had lifeguards, we'd need a phone, but don't without a lifeguard though we need some safety equipment.

I'd be the first one to recommend installing one if required, but who would phone emerg. responders if the lone person in the pool & pool area is in trouble? We do have cameras that're monitored 24/7, so I'd hope the officers would see the problem, call 911 & rush to help.

Many of us have views of the pool and could call 911 & security.

If more than one person's in the pool area, they most certainly have their cell phone with them....

We have muni safety inspectors tromping around here once a year. I can't believe they wouldn't have busted us fin 14 years for lack of a phone if required.

Kerry,

The use of the term 'public' can be very misleading.

While the pool may be in an HOA, if a member of the 'outside public' can be invited as a guest then the pool may be classified as a 'public pool'.

If one must be an actual member to use the pool then it is truly 'private'.

May not apply to CA but the 'principle' might as pool rules are 'universal'.

SC has many classes of public pools:

'type B public pool' would apply to my HOA (non member invited guests may enjoy)

ps. the fact that you have not yet been cited is meaningless

Be careful when you assume anything . . .

If you have questions on what that line item is for, simply do some more research and ask the right people. By assuming you know what some vague line item is referencing, you could very likely be drawing incorrect conclusions that will have you going in the completely wrong direction.

Since you've already requested the budget, I see no harm in a follow-up request for a brief explanation of what each line item covers.

I referred to the 'invited public', not kids trespassing

I am sure CA has 'pool regulations' which you can look-up.

In SC pools are governed by DHEC (dept of health & envir. control) - CA must have similar

to wit:



To be a private pool it MUST be on the grounds of a single family dwelling.

In Los Angeles County, the Department of Public Health charges separate annual license fees for 1) Condos, fees vary depending on # of units, 2) public swimming pools, 30 additional public swimming pools (spas).

They also make routine stops to make sure the pool/spa is in compliance with various issues.

As far as phone, it could be an office phone for developer's onsite sales office, intercom line for either building or gate operator.