This past year, 2011, has been a very challenging time for the BLPOA and especially for this office. Our projected budget in 2011 was $115,000 which encompassed weed eradication, algae treatment, administrative costs and other projects. Due to economic conditions we had to readjust our budget to reflect a more realistic figure and we arrived at a figure of $80,000 which at that time was more doable As many property owners are aware and for those that are NOT, the BLPOA and many other lake associations did not receive any LARE funding for projects covered under the guidelines of the IDNR. These funds, approximately $1,000,000 were redirected to the general fund by our legislators in Indianapolis to help balance the budget.
In 1989, the state legislature, with the support of many citizens established the $5.00 boat fee that funded the Lake Enhancement program. In 2003, an expanded program was passed. This increased fee was designated for specific uses. One third of the revenue generated was to be used for traditional projects; one third was to be used in lakes for invasive aquatic plants and animal control and dredging sediments. The remaining third was to be put into the Conservation Officers Marine Fund.
These three components are now the Lake and River Enhancement Program (LARE). Again, the Indiana code (IC-6-6-11-12.5) states that these funds are NOT to revert to the general fund. In July, 2010, the state budget agency stated that $2,415,121 from the Lake Enhancement fund and $1,415,530 from the Conservation Officers Marine fund is reverted to the general fund for the 2010-2011 budget years. Also, the use of $1.7 million of this years LARE budget has been suspended. Kosciusko County is one of the top three counties in the amount of boat fee revenue collected by the BMV to fund LARE.
After meeting with local IDNR personnel in October, 2011, we were informed that there is a possibility that LARE funds might become available in 2012. Because of the awareness that LARE funds might become available, many more Lake Associations are submitting grant requests to help cover their project costs. We have been informed by the IDNR that we will have to revise our five year plan, even though we did not receive any monies for past years plus we will have to pursue a TIER survey which will cost approximately $14,000.
For the year 2011, we had 615 contributing members, some of which graciously donated a second amount. In 2010, our contributing membership was 677. We will be entering the year 2012 with a balance of $18,662 for the BLPOA and $7,953 for the GCWF. Treatment of Algae is a major concern because it consists of one third of our budget allocation and we are not receiving enough support from some property owners to justify this expense.
As mentioned above, even though LARE monies are suspended, the excise tax that is charged to every owner of a watercraft device is still in effect, but the owners of those watercrafts will not see any benefit from it if LARE funds are not restored to where they were intended
TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS
We want to clarify again, if a property owner itemizes their deductions for income-tax purposes, please write (2) checks, one payable to the BLPOA for $35.00 dues and the
Second check payable to the Grassy Creek Watershed that they wish to claim as a tax-deductible contribution. If the property owner does not itemize their deductions, please write their check for the total contribution payable to the BLPOA.
Happy Boating and have an enjoyable summer.
Update on Weed Treatment for 2011
The estimated budget for year 2011 to spray for weeds is as follows:
Treatment of exotic weeds:
Eurasian Watermilfoil
Big Barbee - 40 acres Kuhn - 5 acres Sawmill - 5 acres
Little Barbee - 20 acres Sechrist - 4 acres Irish - 40 acres
Banning - 4 acres
The total estimate for all lakes is 118 acres.
The price is $235 per acre and the total cost is $27,730.
Curlyleaf Pondweed
Big Barbee - 11 acres Sechrist - 2 acres
The total estimate for Curlyleaf is 13 acres.
The price is $135 per acre and the total cost is $1,755.
Nuisance Weeds - Algae
Spraying of all channels as needed during the growing season. The cost is $27,636.
Lake Wide treatment for Algae will cost $3,500 per application. Past years have shown that more than one Lake Wide treatment was required to try to control this nuisance weed.
The total estimated cost for these applications is $59,621.
Keep in mind that these figures represent projected weed costs and do not reflect administrative expenditures such as printing, mailing, supplies and other tasks that it takes to operate an organization such as the BLPOA.
Below are the 2011 financial statements for the Grassy Creek Watershed Foundation and the BLPOA.
The 2011 statement of revenue and expenses for the Grassy Creek Watershed Foundation is here.
The 2011 statement of revenue and expenses for the BLPOA is here.