NCA discusses 2017 budget

Niwot Community Association (NCA) board members agreed at the Nov. 2 meeting on a 2017 budget that shows the group finishing the year in the red, but approved it with the understanding that membership revenues are being conservatively estimated for the budget.

The group estimates that 2017 operating revenues could be about $14,475 while expenses could total $16,420, leaving the group about $1,945 short. However, stronger membership numbers could make up that shortfall, NCA President Dick Piland said. The NCA also has “healthy” financial reserves, Piland added.

The NCA currently has 414 member households, membership chair Johnny Barrett said, a number that has remained fairly steady. The 2017 membership revenue estimate is based on only 350 member households, which accounts for most of the revenue shortfall.

“We keep our expenses pretty low,” Piland said. “Clean Up Day loses some money each year, but we feel that it is a good service to provide to our community so we adjust our spending to cover those expenses.”

The NCA has also made a stronger commitment to donating funds to local non-profit groups and activities. Over the years, the NCA has granted funds to support Niwot Elementary, Niwot High School, the new Children’s Park, Left Hand Grange #9, various Boy Scout service projects in the town, and several Odyssey of the Mind teams from Niwot Elementary.

In addition, the NCA began organizing and sponsoring the town’s July 4 parade in 2013. The NCA covers parade costs and the Niwot Local Improvement District funds marketing costs for the event. The NCA also has funded painting and maintaining the underpass mural, and coordinates placing, manning and removing event signage and barricades for parades in the town.

At the Nov. 2 meeting, the NCA board unanimously approved donating $1,000 to the Left Hand Grange #9. Recently the Grange has had to spend more than $5,000 on air conditioning work and more than $10,000 for roof repairs on the Fire House Garage.

“I think it’s very appropriate to support the Grange,” Piland said. “They store our road barricades and signs in the garage, and we hold our community forums and meetings there. We’d be dead in the water without the Left Hand Grange.”