Reston Association members will once again see an uptick in the annual assessment that they pay for the services and facilities provided by the homeowners’ organization.
The RA Board of Directors voted at its meeting on Thursday (Nov. 21) to adopt a $23 million budget for 2025 and implement a $848 assessment fee — a $31 or 3.8% increase from the current rate of $817, according to a memo from RA staff to the board.
The approved assessment is notably lower than the $865 fee initially proposed by RA staff, who argued an increase was needed to cover employee raises, inflation and cost overruns in the swimming pool budget.
The board ultimately approved a rate that will support increased services for members, including extended pool hours, while also requiring some reductions in operating costs, according to RA.
“This year, we worked hard to balance member needs, priorities, service, and keep the dues at a manageable place,” RA Board of Directors President Jalal Mapar said in a press release. “We were also committed to keeping reserves at a reasonable level, and I believe we have done that.”
Following a generally successful 2024 pool season, which introduced expanded hours and had all 15 facilities available for the first time since 2019, RA’s new budget will ensure that no pools are closed for more than one day per week and extend the third season when all pools are operating through Aug. 15, the Friday before the new school year begins.
In addition, four more pools will open during late afternoon hours from 4-7 p.m. after the school year gets underway, per the staff memo.
“This budget puts the recreational amenities our members have told us they value most front and center,” RA CEO Mac Cummins said. “Last year, we eliminated many of the barriers we heard members faced in accessing our facilities. This year, we’re expanding that accessibility and opportunity even more.”
With the adopted budget, RA also intends to accelerate work on planned improvements for the Hook Road Recreation Area. The installation of new bathrooms and sidewalks, previously expected to begin in 2026, has moved up to 2025, when the organization was already planning to relocate the ballfields away from the road.
The bathroom and sidewalk upgrades will still cost a total of $500,000, split across two years.
Other projects in the capital budget for 2025 include the addition of a “Super Shade” umbrella at the North Hills swimming pool and an engineering study for “a pool of staff’s choosing,” according to the staff memo.
A reserve study released in August estimated that it’ll cost RA almost $94 million to replace its pools and splash pads going forward, noting that Lake Newport is experiencing “structural issues” and four pools will reach the end of their life within the next 10 years.
At the recommendation of its fiscal committee, the board agreed to add $500,000 to RA’s repair and replacement reserve fund (RRRF) in an effort to prepare for the pool renovations and other major capital projects, though the fund remains $1.25 million below its projected 10-year average.
The pool reserve study recommended that RA transfer roughly $5 million into its reserves in 2025 and continue increasing the fund’s balance by 9.5% year-over-year until 2038.
In order to limit the 2025 assessment increase, the RA board dropped six vacant positions from the budget, including a business analyst position that was created for 2024 but never filled, a human resources role focused specifically on seasonal hiring for the swimming pools, an information technology position and an arborist.
With the eliminations, RA will have 101 full-time positions, dipping below 103 positions for the first time since 2019, according to staff.
The amount of money allocated to salary increases was slashed from $450,000 to $100,000, and RA hit pause on a planned study to assess the state of Lake Anne’s dam “since the requirements are not fully solidified,” staff said. The budget was also reduced for kayak storage (from $30,000 to $10,000) and IT work.
More from RA on paying its assessment fees, which cover amentiy maintenance, programs and adminstrative operations:
Invoices for the annual assessment fee, which is charged to all Reston property owners within the association, will be mailed to all members in mid-December. Payments are due January 1, 2025; late fees will be charged to any payments not received prior to March 1. Reduced rates are available to property owners who participate in the Fairfax County Tax Relief program. RA also offers installment plans.
The Association is implementing a 3% surcharge for assessments paid by credit card to help offset the increasing fees charged for credit card transactions. Members are encouraged to use fee-free methods of paying the assessment, via check, ACH payments or via debit card. Members may use RA’s online portal to pay their assessments. The association also offers ways for property owners to make payments in person, by phone or mail, or by using the drop box located at RA headquarters, 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston. Email Member Services at Member_Services@reston.org or call 703-435-6530 for additional information regarding 2025 assessment payments.
