Law and Legislative Update Meeting – will be held Wednesday, Jan 28 at 7PM at a place still to be determined. Attorneys James Smith and David Loewenthal will present new legislation effective in 2009, significant court cases from 2008 and current legal topics of interest. Watch for email updates and newsletters for additional information.

2009 Dues – Remember that you can get a 50% renewal on your 2009 membership dues if paid by December 20, 2008. Renewals will be only $30 through that date.

2009 Condominium Bluebooks – We will be mailing out your 2009 Bluebook during the week of December 15 but only to those associations that have renewed by that date. A second mailing of books won’t take place until after the holidays. Additional copies of the Bluebook will be available at $18/each – payable to South Coast HOA and check mailed to P. O. Box 1052, Goleta, CA 93116

The September/October 2008 issue of the newsletter will be dropped into the mail soon. In this issue:
-2009 Membership Invoices Sent
-Annual Disclosures to be sent with your 2009 Budget
-2008 California HOA Legislation – Passed/Vetoed
-Barbecue Ban
-FDIC Update
-Ravens Cove Townhomes Case (1981)

An article on graffiti removal was posted today on the Santa Barbara Independent website including instructions on how to remove certain types of graffiti. Some associations have reported increasing problems with this. The link to the article is posted below:

The Santa Barbara Independent – Goleta’s Graffiti Fighters

Speaker: Michael J. Gartzke, CPA

Thursday – September 25, 2008 – 7 PM

Encina Royale Clubhouse
250 Moreton Bay Lane, Goleta

(101 to Fairview, exit north towards mountains -2 blocks to Encina Road, right one block to Moreton Bay Lane, left into association)

Many associations will be in process of developing their 2009 budgets in the fall since calendar year associations must distribute them to their members by the end of November. At this meeting we will discuss:
· Financial reports needed to start the budget process
· Sources of information to develop realistic budget amounts
· Current issues (e.g. bad debts, utility costs, etc.)
· Formatting your budget
· Additional disclosures required to be distributed by California with the budget
· Reserve study disclosures – funding plans
· Assessment/expense trends – 2005-2008

Mr. Gartzke has a solo practitioner accounting practice in Goleta, CA with over 110 association clients for whom he reviews year-end financial statements and/or prepares annual tax returns. He is a co-founder of South Coast HOA and is a former association treasurer.

The August 2008 newsletter will be mailed out shortly. This issue includes:
-2009 Association Budgets Meeting – 9/25
-Avoiding Fraud in your Association
-HOA Internal Control Checklists
-Financial Compliance Checklist
-Books for Sale
-2008 Pending California Legislation

The June/July newsletter will be sent out soon. In this issue:
-Review of 2007 Appellate Court Decisions Concerning HOAs
-Operating Funds and Assessments Receivable – Continuing Analysis
-HOA Board Meeting – Sample Meeting Policy
-“Condo Owners Answer Book” Distributed
-How Well are your Association Funds Insured?
-2006 Newsletters Added to Website

The newsletter will be sent out soon. In this issue:

-A Word from your Editor
-2008 Condominium Bluebooks
-Soaring Gas Rates Will Impact Some HOA Budgets
-SB 528 – Board Agenda Follow Up
-To Foreclose or not to Foreclose
-2000-2005 Articles Now on Website
-CPA Management Letters to Associations