Despite Village residents championing a letter-writing campaign and staging protests, as well as seven state assemblymembers and four state senators sending a signed a letter to California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Director Steve Gordon asking him to prioritize the constituents of South Orange County and reconsider the closure of the Laguna Hills office, the agency remains firm in its plans to permanently close its Laguna Hills branch, located at 23535 Moulton Parkway, at 5 p.m. on Friday, October 18.
According to the state agency, “the Laguna Hills office … does not meet the current needs of the DMV.”
This closure will pose a significant challenge to older adults in South Orange County. While many transactions are available online, some still require in-person appointments. Both are critical for seniors and, after October 18, these transactions will require trips to Santa Ana, San Clemente or Costa Mesa.
The September 13 edition of “What’s Up in the Village” first announced a new VMS benchmarking report (“衡量和比較 VMS 的成功”), which aims to guide the community’s managing agent in improving performance, practices and strategic planning, and help members understand how VMS costs stack up against for-profit companies, government entities and age-restricted sister communities.
This comprehensive report contains a great deal of information and analysis that deserves attention and repeated reviews. To help members with those reviews, in this and subsequent editions of “What’s Up,” similar news articles will break the report into smaller, easy-to-digest topics that make a big impact.
Comparing Monthly Assessments
Assessments are always at the tops of members’ minds—and rightfully so. However, benchmarking data finds in favor of the Village.
Third and United mutuals together are by far the largest representation, with 12,425 homes, compared to the next-largest community with half the number of homes and a total basic assessment that is more than twice that of United’s and almost twice that of Third’s.
Below is an analysis of assessments that just may surprise you. For example, did you know that:
Over 10 years, when the consumer price index (CPI) increased by an average 3.1% annually, United’s average assessment increase was only 2.9% per year?
For nine of those same years, Third’s average assessment increase was below the rate of inflation? The exception was in 2022, when it increased by almost 16% due to an unexpected extraordinary increase in the total assessed value of the mutual’s properties and the resultant huge increase in property insurance costs.
For those same 10 years, GRF’s total assessment increase was only 2% compared to the CPI’s increase of 35% due to new residents paying a trust facilities fee upon the purchase of a manor, similar to an initiation fee at a country club?
51% of United’s assessment goes to building reserves (28%), Maintenance & Construction (13%) and Landscaping (11%)?
51% of Third’s assessment goes to building reserves (22%), Insurance (18%) and Landscaping (11%)?
點選 這裡 to view and/or download the complete document, “VMS Benchmarking Report – September 2024.”
Find further details specifically about assessments on pages 8 through 15 of the report.
Americans can again receive free COVID-19 test kits via mail.
U.S. households may order as many as four nasal swab tests at COVIDTests.gov, which will begin shipping Monday.
A spokesperson from U.S. Health and Human Services said the tests will detect current virus strains and can be ordered ahead of the holiday season, a time when family and friends typically gather together and share close quarters.
Last month, U.S. regulators approved an updated COVID-19 vaccine designed to combat the recent virus strains and hopefully winter ones, as well. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) already has recommended this fall’s shot for everyone age 6 months and older.
While most Americans have some degree of immunity from prior infections or vaccinations or both, protection wanes. Last fall’s shots targeted a strain that is no longer circulating, according to the CDC.
