Somersett Deserves to Celebrate Success
Not all that long ago as recently as 2019 Somersett was struggling—economically, fiscally, and functionally. Unfortunately, reputations can lag far behind reality. A recent online search still turns up stories and references to problems from nearly a decade ago. That deserves an update.
Somersett today is a very different community. That progress deserves to be recognized—not simply for community pride, but because Somersett’s reputation matters to homeowners, prospective buyers, and ultimately our property values.
Since 2020, we have made substantial progress on nearly every major issue that once challenged the Association.
Our legal disputes have been resolved or settled without requiring additional homeowner funding, while legal expenses have declined by approximately 95% from their previous levels. The legal slate is now clear. Our insurances premiums are about to decline. That is an accomplishment worth protecting.
One lesson from our history is particularly important: litigation should never be driven by emotion. Before entering a lawsuit, there should be a clear legal strategy, a realistic assessment of the risks, and a strong likelihood that the potential benefit justifies the cost. Somersett has paid dearly in the past when that standard was not met. We should learn from that experience.
Our financial position has also changed dramatically.
Somersett is a diverse community, and opinions will always vary. At times, there will be predictions that the sky is falling. But the actual numbers tell a different story.
Reserve funding across our cost centers has risen from critical levels of which were frequently less than 60% to healthy levels exceeding 100%. Operating account balances are strong and at record levels. At the same time, assessment increases have averaged only about 1.5% annually over the past three years—a period when general inflation was considerably higher.
That didn’t happen by accident. It came from disciplined fiscal management and strategic decisions about how community dollars are spent relative to realistic budgets.
Bringing management in-house has been an important part of that success. Instead of sending substantial management fees to an outside corporation, those resources have remained within Somersett. Our internal team works directly for this community and has a personal stake in solving problems efficiently and responsibly. Similar approaches have produced strong results in Somersett sub-associations including The Vue, The Village, and Sierra Canyon.
The progress extends beyond the balance sheet. We have seen continued investment in landscaping, community events, club improvements, wildfire mitigation, and grant funding. These are the things that make Somersett not merely financially healthy, but a better place to live.
There is still work to do. There always will be in a community of this size and complexity. The objective should not be to pretend that problems don’t exist, but to address them thoughtfully, factually, creatively, and with the long-term interests of homeowners in mind.
I’m ready to continue that work.
With careful leadership and with your support, Somersett can build on what has been accomplished rather than repeat the mistakes of the past.
Over the coming weeks, I’ll use this site to discuss several specific issues and opportunities facing our community. I’ll make every effort to address them thoughtfully, factually, and directly.
Somersett has come a long way. Now our job is to protect that progress—and build on it.