The Rancho Murieta Association Board Oct. 6 approves a contract to construct a new water feature at the South Gate. Photo by Gail Bullen

RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - Rancho Murieta Association members will pay an additional $4.50 per month in dues next year under a 2027 budget unanimously approved by the RMA Board at its Oct. 6 meeting.

The 2.59% increase amounts to $54 annually.

The additional revenue will help maintain existing services, support the community's Fourth of July fireworks celebration and finance security fencing along the North Gate perimeter.

The original proposal called for a $4.95 monthly increase, including $1.10 to maintain existing services, $0.17 for fireworks, and $3.68 for perimeter security improvements.

Accounting Manager Colleen Hagyard recommended reducing the proposed increase by 45 cents, with the difference added to the budget's projected loss.

Last year, the board approved a $5.1 million operating budget for 2026, with a reported $8 monthly dues increase.

Although the board approved the budget, the total amount of spending authorized for 2027 was not discussed during the meeting.

In response to a request from the River Valley Times for the 2027 budget total and the monthly assessment for 2027, General Manager Vicky Lentz said the association would not release the figures to the newspaper at this time.

"The Association will be mailing this information directly to the membership, and we believe it is important that our members receive and review the information before it is disseminated outside of the membership," Lentz wrote in an Oct. 23 email.

The association did not specify when the information would be mailed.

Board President Patrick O'Hern praised Hagyard for her careful oversight of association finances, noting that the association has kept dues increases modest in recent years.

Security improvements

The North Gate perimeter fencing project accounts for the largest portion of the proposed dues increase.

O'Hern said gaps in the existing fencing allow unauthorized individuals to enter and leave the community, creating safety concerns and increasing the workload of security and compliance personnel.

The association previously used existing funds to finance South Gate perimeter fencing. Additional dues revenue will be needed for the planned North Gate improvements.

Director Chris Childs praised Maintenance Manager Troy Schaffner and his crew for procuring and installing perimeter fencing using association employees rather than outside contractors.

Childs said the dues increase would be about four times as large if the association had to hire contractors to perform the work.

Childs also credited Schaffner with helping control costs by purchasing used equipment in good condition rather than new equipment.

South Gate Water Feature

The board also approved spending $31,360 from reserve funds to hire Nimbus Pond Inc., an El Dorado Hills contractor specializing in ponds and water features, to repair and reconstruct the South Gate water feature as part of the ongoing entrance renovation.

Pesticide Concerns

The Maintenance Committee discussed a resident's concerns about chemicals used in landscape maintenance.

O'Hern said the committee discussed a resident's concerns about pesticides used in landscape maintenance and reviewed California regulations governing their use. He said the association's practices were within state requirements.

The committee did not recommend changes to the current maintenance program but will continue to monitor requests and concerns regarding chemical safety.

Schaffner said pesticide applications are supervised by properly credentialed personnel and that the association recently passed an inspection by the county agricultural commissioner's office.

North Gate Repairs, Pickleball Shade

Repairs to the North Gate guard shack, which was damaged in a vehicle crash, were awaiting the contractor's permits at the time of the meeting.

O'Hern said work would begin once the permits were obtained. Schaffner will notify residents of the construction schedule, and traffic controls will be established during repairs to minimize disruption at the entrance.

The Maintenance Committee also discussed shade improvements at the pickleball courts.

Schaffner reported that his crew had assembled a shade structure using materials already available to the association. Some Maintenance Committee members favored structures like those at the community's dog parks.

The pickleball club has offered to contribute to the project, but updated proposals had not been received. The committee will revisit the matter later.

Recreation activities

Director John Haviland, who chairs the Recreation Committee, reported on plans for the Oct. 31 Trunk or Treat celebration at Stonehouse Park, as well as several upcoming holiday activities.

The community Christmas tree lighting is scheduled for Nov. 27, and judging for the annual holiday lighting contest will begin Dec. 5.

The committee also reviewed revisions to the Stonehouse Park use policy, which are expected to be presented to the board at a future meeting.

The next regular RMA Board meeting is scheduled Nov. 17. The annual meeting and election of directors is scheduled for Nov. 19.