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Happy fall y'all! As autumn arrives, we are greeted by the beautiful sight of falling leaves, vibrant orange and yellow hues, and the comforting taste of pumpkin spice lattes. This season is my personal favorite, bringing a sense of energy and excitement to our community. The cooler temperatures encourage us to spend more time outdoors, whether it is taking neighborhood walks or gathering with friends and family. It is also a wonderful opportunity to participate in upcoming community events and activities, which are designed to help residents connect and celebrate together. Budget Season Overview: While fall is a time for enjoyment, it also marks the beginning of our annual budget season — a less favored but particularly important period. This is when the Budget Committee begins meeting to develop the financial plan for the coming year. Each year brings its own set of challenges as we work diligently to balance and produce a workable budget. Remarkably, since the first budget was prepared without the builder, we have consistently managed to stay within 1 to 2 percent of our projected budget — an achievement any corporation would be proud of. Understanding Our Operating Budget: Four Seasons Beaumont operates as a corporation with an approximate $5.7 million operating budget. Achieving accuracy within such a narrow margin is notable, especially considering that 88 percent of our budget is dedicated to vendor contracts. These contracts cover a variety of services, from large providers like Park West and FirstService to smaller ones such as pool cleaning and music in our facilities. This allocation leaves only 12 percent of the budget available for other expenses. Vendor Management and Cost Control: The Board of Directors actively collaborates with vendors each year to prevent excessive price increases. We review factors such as the Customer Price Index (CPI) for Riverside County, the current rate of inf lation, and recommendations from our Reserve Study. Six months prior to the end date of any contract, the Board assesses the expected increase. Vendors have their own constraints as well, so if proposed increases exceed reasonable thresholds, or if we have had a long-term relationship with a vendor, we request competitive bids through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process. This helps ensure we are not overpaying and provides insight into market pricing, often revealing a wide range of costs for identical services. Planning for Capital Expenses: In addition to operating costs and reserve study recommendations, the Board collaborates closely with all committees to anticipate potential capital expenses for the year. There are expenditures which are not tied to contracts or included in the reserve study, such as a new amenity like a volleyball court and equipment. Identifying these needs in advance allows the Board to decide whether to include them in the upcoming budget. e Budget Approval Process: Over the next few months, the Budget Committee will meet several times to thoroughly review the budget line by line, making decisions on which costs to eliminate or adjust. Once the committee finalizes the budget, it is forwarded to the finance team and then to the Board for approval. This process must be completed by the November Board meeting and distributed to the community by Nov. 30, in compliance with Civil Code. When you receive the packet from Four Seasons, please review it carefully — it will include the full budget and a letter from our President, Jerry Monahan, outlining the new dues for 2026. After the budget is finalized, the Board will vote in an open session to officially approve it. A detailed breakdown of the budget will be presented at that meeting, and I will also provide an overview in my December article. Stay tuned for more information. The Board holds its General Session on the second Thursday of each month at 1 pm in the Ballroom. In addition, a less formal meet-and-greet is held on the third Wednesday of each month at 2 pm, also in the Ballroom. This forum gives residents the opportunity to speak with Board members about any topic except those currently under litigation or discussed in Executive Session. Several Board members attend each month, fostering open communication and engagement within our community. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (714) 722-1301 or via email at kathycravenBoard@yahoo.com. FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | OCTOBER 2025 5 Message from the Board By Kathy Craven, Board Vice President

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