From The Blog

Association’s Annual 2024 Budget Process Gets Underway

As your community association, KICA owns and maintains the island’s common property for the membership. This property includes infrastructure (roads, bridges, leisure trails, drainage, boardwalks), land, and ponds. The association operates the beachfront Sandcastle clubhouse (above), Kiawah’s main gate and Vanderhorst gate, the Rhett’s Bluff boat landing, the Cinder Creek Pavilion and dock, and the Eagle Point kayak launch. KICA offers 24/7 security services, recreational activities, encroachment permitting, and more. A staff of over 100 supports these operations on the island. 

Each year, all of the association’s work on the island must be funded through the association’s budget. The process of stewarding millions of dollars annually to maintain Kiawah Island is lengthy and thoughtful. Although budget planning is ongoing throughout the year, the creation of the next annual budget begins in earnest in September and culminates with board approval in early December.

In September, KICA staff evaluate operational needs, key budget drivers (revenue streams, staffing, capital needs, and reserve (also called MR&R) expenditures), and potential improvements to the organization’s functionality, efficiency and services. The Finance Committee will review these elements with staff leadership at its Sept. 28 meeting and provide guidelines and direction. 

Through the month of October, staff will work to generate a draft budget that is returned to the committee at its Oct. 26 meeting. The committee provides guidance and direction related to key aspects of the budget, including revenue streams, assessment rates, insurance, payroll, capital purchases, MR&R expenditures, and more. On Nov. 2, staff leadership will present the more-developed draft budget to the board of directors in a closed budget workshop. Based on direction from the board, refinements are made again. The resulting draft will be shared with the community in a public forum on Nov. 13. 

In late November, the Finance Committee will conduct a final review of the draft budget, which includes a three-year MR&R budget. The Finance Committee and staff leadership will present this final draft to the board on Dec. 4 for approval and implementation. After approval, the final budget for the upcoming year is published online. You can find KICA financial information, including the current and past years’ budgets, quarterly financial statements, and a look at the association’s two discrete budgets, on the web at kica.us/about/financials/.

2024 Budget Timeline Key Dates*

Thursday, Sept. 28 – Finance Committee Provides Guidelines and Direction. View the video.

Thursday, Oct. 26 – Finance Committee Reviews and Provides Feedback on 2024 Draft Budget. Sign up to attend.

Monday, Nov. 13 – Community Budget Presentation

Thursday, Nov. 30 – Finance Committee Final Budget Review including Three-Year Reserve Budget

Monday, Dec. 4 – Board Reviews and Votes on Final 2024 Budget

*Dates are subject to change