January LIBPA Newsletter
Island Notes:
Arrivals and Departures: Sea Island Optical (Dr. Bill Ahders, OD), located in the Food Lion Shopping Center, has closed its doors for business. In the near future Dr. Jason Bailey, OD who has an optical business on Charles Street will relocate his practice to his new building, presently in the last phase of construction, in the Celadon commercial complex on Sams Point Road.

Change of Ownership: Island Travel, members of the Virtuoso travel network, recently purchased Accent on Travel, located in the Babcock shopping center. They are presently in the process of evaluating their options on the island as to a final permanent location. Island Travel, headquartered on Hilton Head Island, also has a Bluffton location. Connie Valimont, CTA, LS, Beaufort Branch Manager and Marketing Director, invites anyone anticipating travel to stop by or
give them a call (525-0777) to discuss how Island Travel can assist with all your travel needs and plans – leisure, corporate or group.

Lady’s Island Airport Zoning: Presently in the process of being developed is a Lady’s Island Airport “Overlay” District. This type of zoning does not actually change the basic zoning but due to the arrival and departure of aircraft will limit the maximum height of new buildings and require that purchasers of homes in the district be notified of the noise emitting from the airport. The airports at Hilton Head and MCAS, Beaufort have similar zoning established.

New location for Butler Marine: Chris Butler, owner and manager of Butler Marine, has plans for a new facility weaving their way through the County permitting process. The “new” Butler Marine will be located directly across from the former site of Ollie’s Restaurant on Sea Island Parkway. Relocation of the business was part of the agreement
when the present site was purchased through the Rural and Critical Land’s Program for use as a part of Crystal Lake Park.
From The Editor: Jim Hicks
Each January, as we welcome the New Year and say farewell to the old one, I take the opportunity to express my personal appreciation to each of you who read and support the LIBPA newsletter. A special thank you is extended to those of you who have taken the time to share your thoughts, opinions and expertise by submitting articles for the newsletter.

As always, I resolve in the upcoming year to do a better job of proof reading, spelling, writing shorter articles, triple checking details and especially the spelling of names. To those of you who take the time to point out my mistakes or your differences of opinion regarding a subject, thank you for the civil and courteous manner in which you always
express yourself. To those of you who note my errors and say nothing – thank you for your patience and sense of humor.

The monthly LIBPA newsletter would not be possible without the amazing technical skill of Ms. Judy Smith who each month takes a number of articles, in various forms, performs her magic and turns them into a newsletter. It is she who also mails them to our members, e-mails them to those of you who prefer the e-mail version and coordinates with Steve Thompson, President of PC Web Services, for the posting of a special modified version of the newsletter on the LIBPA web site. It should be noted that Steve contributes, without charge, both his time and talent to the operation and maintenance of the LIBPA web site.

As can be seen, the publication of the Lady’s Island Business and Professional Association monthly newsletter is possible only as a result of a lot of people working very hard to make it a reality. It is a pleasure to be a part of their team.
Meet The 2007 LIBPA Officers:
The results of the election, conducted at the November meeting, of the 2007 Lady’s Island Business and Professional
Association officers are as follows:

President - Richard Tritschler. Rich came to Beaufort in 1989 as a member of the U. S. Navy and upon retirement
decided to remain in the Beaufort area. When the Lady’s Island representative to the Beaufort County School Board resigned in 2003, Rich was elected to fill the remainder of his term which expired at the end of 2006. Prior to his arrival on the School Board, he had 9 years service on the School Improvement Council within the schools his children attended and served 2 terms as Chairman during that time. While serving on the School Board he was elected
Vice Chairman. At the present time he is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners Real Estate. He and his wife Pam have 3 children (daughters) ages 23, 20 and 17 and reside on Lady’s Island.

Vice President – Jane Frederick. Jane and her husband Michael, who are both architects, founded and are the
principals of Frederick + Frederick, Architects which specializes in the design of low country homes. Jane has served our community in a variety of capacities to include Chairman of the Beaufort County Corridor Review Board, Chairman of the Committee for development of the zoning for the Lady’s Island Village Center, Vice Chairman of the Lady’s Island Community Preservation Committee and is presently the Practice Director of the 2005/6 Chapter of the American
Institute of Architects. Jane and Michael have 2 daughters and reside on Lady’s Island.

Treasurer – Stephanie Bost. Stephanie is a Vice President with South Carolina Bank and Trust and manager of the Lady’s Island branch of SCB&T. In addition, she has served as Treasurer for LIBPA since 2001. A strong supporter of the American Field Service program which coordinates host families for visiting foreign students she is presently serving as host and sponsor for her 3rd foreign exchange student, a young lady from Thailand who is attending Battery Creek High School and will be her guest for 1 year. Stephanie is also a member of the Board of Directors for Friends of
Caroline Hospice and Chairman of the Administration Board for Port Royal, Methodist Church. 

Secretary - Cathy Crocker. Cathy and her husband Tom retired to the Beaufort area in 1999. Cathy is a 2006 graduate of the Greater Beaufort Senior Leadership Program which is sponsored by Clemson Extension and is presently active in coordinating the 2007 speaker’s program for Government Day. Cathy and Tom reside on Dataw Island where she has been president of their Historic Foundation for the past five years.

On behalf of the entire LIBPA membership we extend our appreciation to each of these individuals who have volunteered to serve in a leadership capacity of our Association during the forthcoming year. 
Thanks For Your Contribution: 
Change in all things is a natural occurrence and the LIBPA Board of Directors is no exception. The end of 2006 saw the following members, after extensive service, leaving the board.

Bill Cody, who is the out going Secretary, served 2 years and is personally responsible for a closer relationship between LIBPA and the residents and leaders of the Dataw community. He also assisted in the public relations efforts to better inform the community as to the role of LIPBA.

Tom Mobley, who represents our community on the Beaufort County Parks and Leisure Service (PALS) Board, has been a member of the LIBPA Board of Directors since 2001 when he assumed the duties of Membership Chairman. In 2002 he was appointed as the Lady’s Island representative to the PAL’s Board and since that time has served in that capacity. Tom will continue to serve on the PALS board and represent our community in matters regarding parks and recreation but due to business and family demands will cease to be a full time member of the LIBPA Board of Directors.

Bob Stoothoff, who joined the LIBPA Board of directors in 1999, served as membership chairman in 2000, President for 2 terms (2001 and 2002), past president 2003, Vice President 2004 -2005 and LIBPA representative to the Chamber of
Commerce (2004 -2006) where he served as a member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Government Affairs Committee. He has also declined reassignment of his role with the Beaufort Regional Chamber and his duties as Vice President of the Beaufort County Open Land Trust. Bob has served as a member of the LIBPA sponsored Lady’s Island Community Preservation Committee since its beginning in 1999 and has agreed to continue in that role. With his departure from the LIBPA board Bob hopes to be able to devote more time to his remaining roles as President of Pathways Connect which is an organization that promotes the development of bikeways, walkways, paths and trails and as a member of the SC Parks Recreation & Tourism Trail Advisory Committee, the Beaufort County Trails Committee and the LOCOG Transportation Advisory Committee.

Rich Tritschler and Mark Generales who took the time from very busy schedules as elected officials to also serve on the LIBPA Board of Directors will pass their positions to the newly elected School Board Representative and Councilman. Rich, who was recently elected as the 2007 LIBPA President, will remain on the board but serve in a different capacity.

To each of the above individuals a special thank you for your past and continuing contributions to keeping Lady’s Island such a really great community.
Reflections Of The Past Two Years: by Ken Bush, President, LIBPA (2005 - 2006)
During the past two years I have been privileged to serve as President of the Lady’s Island Business and Professional Association. During that time LIBPA has continued to grow in membership and improve in our continuing effort to provide both sides of the growth issues facing the businesses and residents of Ladys Island. In this regard many leaders in the greater Beaufort community including professional government staff, leaders in other civic organizations, business leaders, elected officials, and candidates for elected office have given of their valuable time to share their perspectives on issues at our general membership meetings.

I complete my service as President convinced that the key to the future of Lady’s Island is in the hands of those residents and business men and women who so graciously give of their time to make “things work better”. In this respect, I was supported by a great Board of Directors. Bonny Carmody took time from a very busy life to serve as Vice President. Our Secretary, Bill Cody, provided a fresh insight from the Dataw point of view and was instrumental in providing timely and professional press releases for our monthly meetings. The Association continued to increase its membership, thanks to the efforts of a very active Board, in particular Jane Hincher and Sherrie Little. Under the continued leadership of Bob Stoothoff, all five medians on Sams Point Road now have sponsors so the landscaping can be completed and maintained. He also coordinated the landscaping by the Lady’s Island Garden Club around the sign near the McTeer Bridge. Jim Hicks’ and Judy Smith’s efforts made our monthly newsletters accurate and interesting. Pat Harvey Palmer was the leadership behind our social events and candidate forums. Rich Tritschler and Mark Generales made time in their busy schedules to insure the board always had the “political” picture on subjects of interest. Stephanie Bost, as treasurer, watched our financial status. Tom Mobley worked to make a park on Lady’s Island a reality. Roger and Patrice Talmadge worked to insure our monthly meetings went smoothly. Marie Lewis opened the doors of her Sea Island Conference Center when we needed a new place to meet and each month serves as a very gracious hostess for our meeting. The members of the LIBPA sponsored Community Preservation Planning Committee quietly and efficiently serve as the voice of our community in regard to zoning issues and who are presently providing the leadership for planning of Crystal Lake Park. As can be seen, the list of individuals who have contributed in the past and continue to contribute to both Lady’s Island and LIBPA could go on and on.

The new 2007 LIBPA officers and Board of Directors have members from different backgrounds and all are very qualified. I am very confident that LIBPA will be able to continue as an effective voice of Lady’s Island. I look forward to being a part of LIBPA in the coming year as your liaison to the Greater Beaufort Chamber of Commerce. To all of you, thank you for your support.
December Oyster Roast A Success: 
The weather was pleasant, the oysters tasty, and the atmosphere full of holiday cheer – the annual LIBPA Oyster Roast was a great evening for all. The Oyster Roast “team”, organized and led by Pat Harvey Palmer with her husband Jim in a key support role, once again made the evening look easy. Charlie Schreiner and Dr. Jean Trochet, DVM formed the nucleus of the “set up” and “clean up” group and Bill Rice provided his special chili. The members brought tasty covered dishes and before everyone started the holiday rush, it was nice to enjoy an evening of good food and fellowship with LIBPA members and their guest. Finally, we offer our appreciation to Sheriff Tanner for his gracious sharing of the “Sheriff’s Camp”.
The End Of An Era: 
In 1981 a group of Lady’s Island business men and women and residents gathered to discuss how to best cope with the
rapid growth on Lady’s Island. They met in the Wilkop’s Restaurant located on what today is called the Whitehall property. Their solution was to form an organization to be called the Lady’s Island Business and Professional Association designed to guide growth on the island in a positive manner. Pat Harvey Palmer, owner and BIC of Hometown Realty, was a member of this original group and is today the only charter member who remains on the active roles of LIBPA.

Wilkop’s Restaurant became the Whitehall Restaurant and finally Bateaux Restaurant. To facilitate the 2007 development of the Whitehall property Bataux Restaurant has announced its intentions to close its doors on Lady’s Island in March 2007 and relocate to the Town of Port Royal. Specifically, their new home will be in the last building on the left on Paris Avenue prior to entering the port. Until March 2007, when the move actually occurs, the Bateaux Restaurant will remain open for business at its present location.

Although, there will probably be another restaurant, in the future, on the Whitehall property it is with a touch of sadness that we see the restaurant in which LIBPA was founded, depart the island. We wish the owners and employees of Bateaux Restaurant the best of luck in their new location.
Beaufort Engineering Services Celebrates 30th Anniversary: 
The employees of Beaufort Engineering Services (BES) and their families recently celebrated their 30th year of being in business. At the celebration many of employees and principals of the firm were recognized for their contribution to the growth and success of BES. According to the President/CEO William Walter Bolton two LIBPA members, Robert DeLoach and Billy O’Neal, were instrumental in the survival of the business in its early days. Robert, who is a principal with the company, served on the LIBPA Board of Directors and was the driving force to insure the Sams Point Road widening project was designed and constructed in keeping with the wishes of the community. Billy, who today along with his wife Cindy, operates the O’Neal Development Group was an early owner of BES. Billy also developed the Professional Village, designed the Trade Wind Plantation, which is the project presently under development on Dow Road, and worked with the LIBPA Community Preservation Committee in developing the standards for the Lady’s Island Redevelopment District.

Starting in its early days with 3 employees; today BES is a successful and modern company with over 60 employees and offices in Beaufort and Fairhope, Alabama. We offer our congratulations on their success and our appreciation for their contributions to our community.
Beaufort County Business License Fees Increase: 
In one of the last sessions of 2006, Beaufort County Council increased the price of a business license for the unincorporated portion of the County. When the license fee was originally instituted, LIBPA fully supported it based on the publicly stated rational that the purpose of the license was not to raise revenue but a way to identify businesses operating in the unincorporated portion of the county. LIBPA has opposed past attempts to raise the fee to generate revenue. When an effort was made to raise the fee for the purpose of providing funding for the Economic Development
Partnership, LIBPA opposed the concept. When it was discovered that over 800 businesses were operating without any business license, LIBPA supported an increase in the fees necessary to properly enforce the ordinance and insure that everyone was playing by the same rules. Now, there is no reason to present the illusion that the recent increase in fees is designed to only pay for the operation and enforcement of the license ordinance. It will do that, but it will also
significantly increase the amount of revenue going to the county ($400,000 in 2006 to an estimated $4.5 million in 2007).

Following are examples of the amount of increase for 3 types of businesses common to Lady’s Island and assumes each has an annual gross income of $2 million.
         
COST OF BUSINESS LICENSE
Type of Business 2006 2007
Restaurant $181.50 $576.15
Real Estate $391.80 $1930.35
Construction $216.55 $801.85

The county business license is now another form of a tax. To point out that municipalities charge much more (about 40%) for their business license does not make it any less a tax. Only that the County now does the same thing that the municipalities do – use the business license as a method to generate revenue.

Lady's Island Facts: (Ugly Green Buildings)
In 2004 there appeared small green metal sheds on each side of the causeway leading to the Wood’s Memorial Bridge. Each of the sheds contains a U. S. Geological Survey storm water monitoring station being used as part of a joint DOT and USGS study. The purpose of the study is to determine the effectiveness of the two types of storm water treatment systems installed along Highway 21 and also Sams Point Road.
FREE ADVERTISEMENT !!!: 
Each year we conduct a survey of the number of visitors to the LIBPA web site who take the time to also look at the membership roster and while there, pause to visit a member’s web page. This year the 10 most popular sites on the LIBPA membership page are as follows:

  Ballenger Realty                Morgan Stanley
  Laura Cody Art Studio        Apex Realty     
  Music to Go                      Accurate Reproductions    
  Home Town Realty             A. G. Edwards     
  P. C. Web Services           Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners Realty

That real estate and financial businesses are among the most frequently visited web sites is not surprising. That the second most visited site is Laura Cody’s web site, which she uses to display her art work, indicates a very interesting use of internet marketing for local artist.

To have your personal web site linked to your membership listing on the LIBPA web site is a benefit of membership and only requires providing Steve Thompson (LIBPA webmaster at thewebguy@earthlink.net) with the address of your web site. Interestingly enough, only 1 out of every 2 of our members has taken the time to have Steve link their business web site to their membership listing.
Last Median On Sams Point Road Adopted:  
LIBPA members Sonya and Ronnie Reiselt of Southern Tree Services have agreed to sponsor the landscaping for the median on Sams Point Road in front of Beaufort Academy. They indicate that the actual landscaping will be conducted in January. With their generous support all of the medians on Sams Point  Road now have landscaping sponsors.

LIBPA, with the help of Brad Hill of the Beaufort Planning Group, has guided this project from the design phase of the
widening of Sams Point Road to the recent sponsorship of the last median by Southern Tree Services. With financial support from LIBPA, Frank and Jennifer Bailey of Spectrum Graphics install the initial sponsorship signs on each median and when needed for reasons of age, appearance or vehicle accidents (you would not believe how many are hit by cars) replace the signs.

The sponsors for the landscaping of the 5 medians on Sams Point Road are:
The Beaufort Planning Group
Lady’s Island Dental
Martin’s Landscaping
Ballenger Realty
Southern Tree Services

A special thank you to each of the above businesses for going that extra step to make Sams Point Road and Lady’s Island a little more attractive.
One Day Snapshot Of Lady's Island Elementary School: 
Since Friday, December 15 was the 90th day of school this year at Lady’s Island Elementary School (LIES) Principal Terry Bennett captured the following data as to what the school looked like on that day.

Enrollment:
Capacity 400
Enrollment 413
Daily Average Attendance 97%

Ethnicity:
Black 146 35%
White 209 51%
Hispanic 41 10%
Other 17 4%

Gender:
Females 215 52%
Male 198 48%

It should be noted that data, such as provided above, fails to properly indicate why Lady’s Island Elementary School is
considered such a “special school” by its teachers (highest percentage of Master’s degrees and lowest rate of teacher
turnover), its students, who enjoy an arts infused curriculum and the parents (41% of who choose LIES as their “school of choice”).
Welcome To The Neighborhood - Southern Tree Service Style: 
Sonya and Ronnie Reiselt, LIBPA members and owners of Southern Tree Services of Beaufort, recently combined their recognition of Arbor Day and role as good neighbors to officially welcome Pastor Mel Arant and the Waters Edge Church to Lady’s Island. Waters Edge is a United Methodist Congregation which this year purchased the 10 acres and 2 buildings at 415 Sams Point Road. Eventually, the site will be home (hopefully) of a new church building. On Arbor Day (December 1) Sonya and Ronnie, along with a full crew from Southern Tree Services planted a very nice (large) tree along the driveway of the new church as their way of celebrating Arbor Day and saying welcome to both Pastor Arant and the members of his congregation.

To Sonya and Ronnie, thank you for reminding all of us how to be a good neighbor.
Hamilton Village: 
At the intersection of Sunset Bluff Drive and Sea Island Parkway is 6.2 acres located on Factory Creek. As previously reported in the August LIBPA newsletter, this site is destined to be the home of Hamilton Village which will consist of a commercial village (2 separate buildings of 6,240 square feet each and 1 building with 3,580 square feet designated for a bank located along Highway 21) and 40 luxury condominiums located in three buildings on the Factory Creek waterfront. Each building with the condominiums will be 4 stories tall. Two of the buildings will house 4 villas per level or 16 villas in each building and one building with 8 villas (2 villas per floor). Two basic styles are available (3 bedrooms with 3 baths or 3 bedrooms, 3 baths and a study/den. The price range for purchase of a villa is between $725,000 and $795,000. Each unit will include a carport and access to a swimming pool and day dock. There will be parking for 60 commercial spaces along with 47 residential spaces. For additional details regarding this development, please visit their web site at www.hamiltonvillagesc.com or call (843) 301-2568.
Legislation To Watch In 2007?: by Tara McGrath, South Coast Office Director, Coastal Conservation League
It is anticipated that basic community protection measures will once again be under attack in Columbia, this legislative season, from a movement to resurrect “regulatory takings” legislation.

What is this legislation?
Regulatory takings legislation threatens community protection measures such as those used to separate commercial areas from residential neighborhoods. It would require local governments to pay cash compensation to private property owners who claim zoning or other regulations preclude the highest economic value of their property. There is no physical taking but instead an economic “taking” through zoning or other regulations.

Future height restrictions, noise limitations or land use parameters enacted by municipalities or county governments in South Carolina would be subject to this threatening legislation. Let’s take, for example, a town that decides to limit building height along a river front. Through the normal process, the town council would review the proposals and hold public hearings on the question. Then, if the council determines as a result of public input that the community wants to set the maximum height for homes fronting the river at 40 feet those regulations could be considered a “taking.”

The argument is that property owners along the river might lose economic value in their property because of the height restriction. If someone in that town wanted to build a 60-foot, multi-family unit but could not because of zoning regulations, then that landowner could argue they are losing money because they would make less profit from a smaller building. According to regulatory takings proponents, the government is “taking” value from that property owner and must pay for it – in cash – or provide a waiver and allow the larger building to be constructed. The end result is local governments PAYING landowners to comply with zoning regulations.

Local governments implement protective measures, like height limitations used in the example above, to ensure public safety and community character. The proposed “regulatory takings” law would affect not only traditional zoning guidelines but also historic district protections, wetlands permitting, habitat protection... in a nutshell, regulatory takings would halt community preservation and responsible growth in South Carolina. Local governments would be forced to waste millions of taxpayer dollars in cash payments to landowners who argue that complying with local regulations will cost them money, or waive the rules and allow incompatible uses.

Of equal concern are the economic consequences on properties neighboring these incompatible land uses. Such consequences have not been addressed by proponents of these regulations. In the example of a hypothetical town wanting to limit the height of river front housing, no doubt a 60-foot high building would bring down the value of other houses in that community, yet neighboring property owners would have no recourse.

Where did the concept of “Regulatory Takings” come from?
Well-funded, out of state, special interest groups have been funneling money into states across the nation to promote this type of legislation. In 2004, voters in Oregon approved Measure 37, Oregon’s Just Compensation for Land Use Act, which is a similar measure. To date, the results have been catastrophic.

Local governments in Oregon are now facing over 3000 claims on more than 160,000 acres. The total dollar value of these claims has reached $6 billion – equivalent to the entire State of Oregon’s annual budget.

Recent polling suggests that voters in Oregon are experiencing buyer’s remorse. Two out of three people are now opposed to the measure largely due to painful waivers granted by local governments who could not afford to pay off the requests. County and municipal bodies have no choice but to permit incompatible uses. Specific examples in Oregon include:
-- a mining company digging inside a national monument;
-- a gravel pit in a residential neighborhood;
-- a four story condominium built in a neighborhood of single family homes; and
-- 300 houses on previously protected farmland.

Why does Oregon matter to South Carolina?
In 2006, “regulatory takings” proponents brought forth a bill in Columbia using Oregon’s Measure 37 as a template. In fact, much of the language was identical. If that bill, H 4503, had passed in South Carolina, the results would have been as damaging and irreversible as what we now see in Oregon.

Fortunately, a compromise was reached in Columbia and a crisis averted, at least temporarily. Instead a study committee was formed to review the issue and will begin meeting in January 2007. The committee includes elected officials and appointed citizens from throughout the state (although none from the Beaufort area) and their recommendations are to be assembled by March 15, 2007.

To combat the threat posed by regulatory takings, concerned citizens across the state have formed a group called Citizens for Community Protection (CCP). The Coastal Conservation League is working in partnership with CCP and is proud to be a part of this broad-based coalition to preserve local land use protections. The coalition is gathering support from local governments, chambers of commerce, home owners associations, historic preservation groups and conservation groups. To find out more about these efforts and what you can do, please visit www.citizens4cp.org.
Military Housing And The Military Market: 
In the past, one of the troubling facts was that some of the young Marines or Sailors, who were married and assigned to military commands in the Beaufort area, found upon arrival that government housing was not available and “affordable” housing in the civilian community did not exist.

A recent check with representatives of the military housing office at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort finds that today if a Marine or Sailor arrives with his family at any of the three military bases in the Beaufort area, government housing is available for them. This is primarily due to a combination of increased federal funding to renovate and upgrade existing government housing and a combined effort on the part of the private sector and the government to build a large number of new homes for military families. These projects to build additional homes are called Public/Private Ventures (PPV) in that the government usually provides the property and guarantees a percentage of occupancy for many years. The private corporation funds and builds the new housing and provides the management and maintenance. At the present time, whether PPV or government there are approximately 1600 government homes available in the Beaufort area to military families.

There are currently approximately 5,859 permanent military personnel (the 5000 recruits at Parris Island are not included in this figure) assigned to the Beaufort area of which almost 60% (3,475) are married and need housing. If the 1600 government homes are meeting the needs of those that desire to live in military housing, then approximately 1900 are choosing to either not bring their family or more likely desire to live in the civilian community and purchase a home. Although based strictly on antidotal evidence Lady’s Island, due to the quality of the public schools, is one of the “locations of choice” for military families purchasing a home in the Beaufort area and Bluffton is rapidly becoming
the “location of choice” for military families desiring to enter the real estate market; but at a less expensive level than is possible in the Beaufort area.

The military commands have plans to continue increasing the number of homes available to military families through a $144 million dollar program over the next few years. This is probably a very good thing, for if the local and national real estate market experiences a significant down turn, an increasing number of those Marines and Sailors who arrive in the future may desire to utilize government housing versus investing in the real estate market for their time in Beaufort.

Regardless of the future of the real estate market, the military community deserves a “well done” for finding solutions to the challenge of insuring there is sufficient housing for the Marines and Sailors assigned to the Beaufort area. Now, if we, in the civilian community, could achieve a similar success to insure key individuals such as school teachers and policemen arriving in our area could find “affordable” housing - it really would be a great new year.
LIBPA 2006 Year-End Accounting: by Stephanie Bost, Treasurer

Category 2005  2006
Category:    
     FUNDS AVAILABLE   
     Previous year-End Balance  $3,588.46 $6,693.83
     Total Deposits (Dues, Contributions)  $9,824.11 $9,419.05
     Total Year Funds Available  $13,412.57 $16,112.88
    DISBURSEMENTS   
     Monthly Meetings $1,100.00 $1,100.00
     Special Events $   253.74 $   427.00
     Printing (Newsletters, Brochures) $1,910.66 $2,148.21
     Administrative Support $1,200.00 $1,200.00
     Postage $   807.26 $   795.21
     Awards $   254.42 $   217.35
     Community Signs $   983.08 $  265.09
     Miscellaneous  $   209.58 $    75.90
Year-End Balance   
     Total Year Funds Available  $13,412.57 $16,112.88
     Total Disbursements  $  6,718.74 $  8,228.76
     Total End-of-Year Balance $  6,693.83 $  7,884.12
End-of-Year Balance/Allocation   
     Operating Account  $ 4,693.83 $ 5,884.12
     Reserve $ 2,000.00 $ 2,000.00
     Total $ 6,693.83 $ 7,884.12

It should be noted that the data set forth in this article is presented in such a manner as to show LIBPA members the amount of funds received in the form of dues and the manner in which those funds were utilized, along with a comparison to the previous year.

The purchase of community and median signs continue to be funded as special projects. The financial contribution in support of the 1% Sales Tax Referendum and the Rural and Critical Lands Program Referendum was the major financial
project for 2006. As can be seen, the LIBPA budget is reasonable stable from year to year and our organization is financially sound.