Basis for Construction of the Budget

This budget is one of the primary policy documents that the Columbia Association Board of Directors utilizes to prepare the organization for the future.

In general, budgets are based on many salient points to ensure that CA has adequate means to provide services that Columbia residents and CA customers have come to expect.

Included in those points are:

• Adequate income to cover all expenses
• Expenses that reflect customer wants and that add value to life and property
• Expenditures that keep facilities in the condition that customers expect
• Communications that show residents and customers what they get for their investment
• That the CA Board of Directors and Staff are making judicious decisions in the best interests of residents and customers
• That CA is doing its part to support sustainability platforms, especially by reducing our carbon footprint
• Those that provide maintenance, programming and project leadership are fairly compensated
• CA has investigated grant and partnership opportunities that reduce normal budget expenditures
• Capital expenditures are balanced and within CA’s financial capacities and capabilities so as to eliminate robbing Peter to pay Paul practices

The primary practice for budgets is that once the policy making body makes a determination of the levels of funding that are needed to operate the organization, it is then up to staff to implement the budget document.

Implementation revolves around many factors, the most important of which include:

• Safe and secure facilities that offer what customers want
• Careful and constant stewardship and monitoring of funds to ensure that income covers expenses
• Decisions as to the use of funds hold the community and customers safe from liability
• Planning for the future that is based on:
  • Relevant trends
  • Community demographics
  • Infrastructure aging & conditions
  • Community focus
  • Potential economic trends
  • Natural resource supply and demand
  • Mobility trends
  • Housing trends and needs
  • Individual and group lifestyles
• How all of these elements impact the way that CA does business

CA has built all four of the primary elements of the budget-- the Planning Element, the Strategic Planning document, the Operating Budget, and the Capital Budget based on the Board’s Goals and Objectives. The documents are intended to build the foundation for the pathway to the future. However, times will change.