2026 Budget Concerns: Where Is Our Money Really Going?

Our 2026 budget may look like a normal spreadsheet, but what’s really going on behind those line items?

This page breaks it all down: where your dues are really going, what’s being hidden, and how the numbers raise serious red flags.

Scroll down to see the full budget, followed by the facts and analysis you won’t get from the board.

🔍 Click the image to view full-size.
📄 Download the full 2026 budget spreadsheet

🚨 1. Conflict of Interest / Violations / Shady Line Items

💰 Unauthorized Compensation
Board President Stephanie Parker

  • Budget Says: “Painting” is listed as a separate line item. However, per Meyer’s sworn statement on July 2, 2025, the task is covered under Property Management and Maintenance

  •  Problem: Funds from this line item are paid directly to Stephanie Parker. Under oath (July 2, 2025), both Meyer and Parker admitted she receives annual payments for painting/staining. However, for 2025 only Meyer stated Parker was paid; Parker testified she did not perform the work that year. She receives a 1099 as a contractor.

  • Questions:

    • Why is the board president accepting HOA funds in violation of bylaws?

    • Why is Prism receiving HOA funds for Property Management and Maintenance at the same time Parker is also receiving HOA funds for the same task?

💸 Maintenance Workers

  • Budget Says: “Maintenance Workers” is a separate line item. These are Prism Realty employees, not contractors.

  • Problem: HOA funds already pay Prism for property management. Charging again for employee wages is double‑dipping. Workers are rarely seen on site, often observed at Meyer’s personal condos, while our property is neglected and flagged by Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac.

  • Questions:

    • Why was this issue ignored after being raised May 22, 2023?

    • Why are workers absent from our property but visible at Meyer’s condos?

    • How do we know HOA funds aren’t covering private work?

    • Why do “Maintenance Worker” and “Management Fees” both increase while our property declines and now on the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac no-buy list?

🔥 2. Overspending the Budget & Unexplained Increases

🗑️ Trash Service 

  • Budget Says: Trash spending has already exceeded the 2025 budget.

  • Problem: In nine months, $51,473.78 was spent, projected to reach $68,631.71, far above budget.

  • Questions:

    • Why is trash already over budget?

    • Why doesn’t the 2026 budget reflect actual spending trends?

🧾 Miscellaneous Expenses 

  • Budget Says: “Miscellaneous” has exceeded the 2025 budget. Problem: Historically averaged $12,570. In 2025, already over budget with no breakdown. Questions:

    • What exactly is included in “Miscellaneous”?

    • Why is it over budget without explanation? (Board previously claimed it is office supplies and Condo Café. The mailing of notices, late notices, correspondence, checks to vendors, check stock, printing of payment coupons, copies, envelopes.)

    • Why does it cover all items that should already be covered by the Management Contract?

🐜 Pest Control 

  • Budget Says: Pest Control has exceeded the 2025 budget.

  • Problem: Historically averaged $15,850. In 2025, already over budget with no documentation.

  • Questions:

    • Why is Pest Control over budget?

    • Who provides the service, and where is the documentation?

⚖️ 3. Hidden Legal Spending

⚠️ Legal Expenses Are Underreported

  • What the Budget Says: The 2025 legal budget is set at $1,045, and 2026’s is just $1,500.

  • The Problem: YTD actual show $71,588.09 has already been spent in just the first nine months of 2025. Legal costs are expected to exceed $95,000 this year; mostly due to the board’s lawsuit against me (and against you) for requesting financial records and organizing a lawful meeting. This lawsuit is still active in 2026, yet there’s no legal cost reflected in the 2026 budget.

  • What to Ask: Why is the legal budget so low despite provable expenses? What else is being hidden?

 

Important Note: The special assessment equals about $80,060.00. Is your assessment payment really being used to cover this lawsuit?

📎 Sandberg Phoenix invoices will be added soon

⚠️ Double Dipping: Charged Twice for the Same Work

Budget Says: Prism’s management fee covers cleaning, accounting, repairs, and miscellaneous. In 2025, this also include snow removal

Problem: Separate line items duplicate these services: Accounting, Cleaning, Common Area Repairs, Concrete/Asphalt Repairs, Garage/Carport Repairs, Snow Removal. Prism admitted under oath they perform many of these tasks.

Questions:

  • Who is actually being paid under each line item?

  • Why are duplicate payments approved?

  • Where are receipts, logs, or invoices proving work was done? (Example: $40,000 for two days of snow removal; cleaning “once a month” yet nothing is clean.)

That means we're paying Prism once in their management fee, and then again under separate categories that should already be covered.

📌 Under oath, James Meyer admitted that Prism performs many of these tasks.
So why are we paying for them twice?

How do we justify $40,000 for two days of snow removal? Meyer admitted under oath that at least for early 2025, Prism maintenance workers did the snow removal

 

📊 Want to Compare with Last Year?

You can still view last year’s 2025 Budget Concerns page to see how the same issues were raised. And ignored.

👉 Click here to review the 2025 Budget Questions & Concerns