From The Blog

Association’s Annual 2025 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, drainage, leisure trails, boardwalks), 200 acres of land, and a network of 122 ponds. The association operates the Sandcastle, Kiawah’s main gate and Vanderhorst gate, the Rhett’s Bluff boat launch, the Cinder Creek Pavilion and paddlesports launch, and the Eagle Point boat 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 August and culminates with board approval in November.

In August, KICA staff evaluate operational needs, key budget drivers (revenue streams, staffing, capital needs, and major infrastructure repair/replacement 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. 26 meeting and provide guidelines and direction. 

Staff will work to generate a draft budget that is returned to the committee at its Oct. 17 meeting. The committee provides guidance and direction related to key aspects of the budget, including revenue streams, assessment rates, insurance, payroll, capital purchases, Major Repair & Replacement (MR&R) reserve expenditures, and more. 

In late October, the Finance Committee will conduct a final review of the draft budget, which includes a three-year MR&R budget. Next, staff leadership will present the draft budget to the board of directors in a budget workshop. Based on direction from the board, refinements are made again. The Finance Committee and staff leadership will present this final draft to the board on Nov. 11 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/.

2025 Budget Timeline Key Dates*

Thursday, Sept. 26 – Finance Committee Provides Budget Guidelines and Direction

Thursday, Oct. 17 – Finance Committee Reviews and Provides Feedback on First Draft of 2025 Budget

Thursday, Oct. 31 – Finance Committee Final Review of 2025 Draft Budget including Three-Year Reserve Budget

Monday, Nov. 11 – Board Reviews and Votes on Final 2025 Budget

*Dates are subject to change