Looking toward thefuture!We’ve created a Comprehensive Plan for Serving the

Older Adult Community, opened the Columbia

DogPark, commenced design and engineering for the

Haven on the Lake mind and body wellness retreat,

launched a new ColumbiaAssociation.org website and

updated Columbia Association’s strategic plan. There’s

a lot going on with CA these days! Our new mission

statement is “working every day in hundreds

of ways to make Columbia an even better place to live,

work and play.” CA has been working hard to provide

residents with numerous facilities and programs, as

well as to plan for and think about the future of the

community with large-scale projects and initiatives.

CA is proud to be a major part of what makes this

community so fantastic. n

CA has a communityengagement website,InspireColumbia.com,and we need yourfeedback! The site was designed toengage Columbiacommunity membersin conversation withCA by submittingideas in response totopics and questionsposted. The topicsposted are related toCA’s organizationalgoals, and eachserves to garner publicopinion on how tomaintain and enhancethe quality of life forpeople living andworking in Columbia.

We love our members, and throughout this publication you’ll see photos

of our members taken during our annual photo shoot.

HelpshapeColumbia’s

future!

speakUPgetinspired

CAFISCAL YEAR May1, 2014 through April 30,2015At a Glance 2015

What isColumbiaAssociation?Columbia Association (CA) is in the quality-of-life business. Columbia is not a city; rather, it’s a

planned community. CA is a private, not-for-profit community service corporation which not only provides

high-quality facilities and programs for residents to enjoy, but also maintains the open space land in

Columbia, helps keep property values in the area high, supports standards for altering homes’ exteriors

on CA-assessed property, protects and restores Columbia’s waterways and more. Columbia has won

numerous awards for being one of the best places in the country for people to live, and it’s thanks

in part to CA’s involvement that the community is as desired and well-regarded as it is. n

Did you know that homes in the US within a

three-block radius of a park or open space

have higher property values? The majority of

homes in Columbia meet that criteria, and it’s

CA that provides and maintains approximately

3,600 acres of open space, which includes

almost 94 miles of pathways, 167 tot lots,

three lakes and 41 ponds.

The village community associations in

Columbia set and enforce the architectural

covenants (the exterior alteration standards)

for homes in Columbia. The covenant system

is administered by each individual village

community association, and each association

has its own Resident Architectural Committee

made up of residents in that village. You can

learn more about your village’s guidelines at

ColumbiaVillages.org. n

$3,307

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Property values and the benefits of living in Columbia

More the amount people are willing to pay for a home

near permanently preserved open space rather thanpastureland that could be developed in the future.

—Journal of American Planning Association

handles what?Columbia VillageCommunity Associations• Enforcing covenants

• Providing resources and referral services for residents

• Advocating for residents at the village, Columbia and county level

• Fostering partnerships betweenvillages, Columbia Associationand Howard County

• Facilitating information sessionsand community meetings

• Managing, maintaining and renting out CA’s village buildingsand neighborhood centers

• Hosting individual village events and partnering with all villages for Columbia-wide special events

• Offering programming, including classes, camps and lectures

• Creating village master plans

• Working with village merchants

• Communicating to residents via newsletters, websites and social media

• Encouraging neighbor-to-neighbor connectivity via block parties, beautification grants and block captains

Columbia Association• Maintaining fitness facilities, golf clubs, tennis and basketball courts and swimming pools

• Operating the Columbia Ice Rink, Columbia Horse Center (via lease), Columbia SportsPark/SkatePark

• Operating the Columbia Art Center, Youth and Teen Center at the The Barn, Columbia Archives and Volunteer Center Serving Howard County

• Providing Before and After School Care to Howard County students

• Organizing free summer concerts and films at the Downtown Columbia Lakefront

• Providing summer camps

• Maintaining approximately 3,600 acres of open space

• Developing plans to improve the connectivity of thepathway system in Columbia

• Developing plans to protect and restore Columbia’s watershed

• Schools and library management

• Water and sewer management

• Road maintenance and snow removal

• Waste and recycling collection

• County parks and recreation facilities

• Watershed management/ restoration

• Inspections, licenses and permits

• Planning and zoning management

• Historic preservation• Police, fire and rescue

services

Howard County Government

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You can learn more at ColumbiaAssociation.org; click on “About Us.”

You can learn more at co.ho.md.us.You can learn more atColumbiaAssociation.org/Villages

Columbia Association

4How is the CA annual charge calculated?If you have walked through the woods,

fished in a lake, called your villagecommunity association for information,enjoyed an outdoor pool, attended a freesummer concert on the DowntownColumbia Lakefront or voted in a villageelection, you have experienced some ofthe benefits of the CA annual charge.The CA Board of Directors has the

authority to set the rate to a maximum of 75 cents per $100 of valuation assessedon 50 percent of the fair market value, asdetermined by the state of Maryland forreal estate tax purposes. The current rate is set at 68 cents. Residents contributeapproximately 70 percent of the annualcharge revenue, and the businesscommunity contributes approximately 30 percent. Columbia Association appliesthe same methodology used by HowardCounty and the state with respect to theircaps on property taxes, and they don’t applythose caps in calculating taxes due on aproperty in the year following the purchase.The income provided by the annual

charge, while significant, covers a littlemore than half of the cost of the servicesprovided by Columbia Association.Therefore, some of the most popularactivities and services, such as PackagePlan and facility memberships, require thepayment of dues and fees. Since CAresident members pay membership duesand the annual charge, their dues aresignificantly lower than those paid by non-CA residents. For example, CA resident families normally payapproximately 35 to 55 percent less for amembership in the Package Plan or for theoutdoor pools than non-CA residents.

For information about your annualcharge, call the Annual Charge Hotline at410-715-3058 or visit WhyIPayCA.org. n

BudgetCA’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget was approved by CA’s Boardof Directors in February 2014. The total revenues for the FY 2015 budget are $1.9 million higher than the FY 2014budgeted total revenues. The budgeted total operatingexpenses for FY 2015 are $63.3 million, which is about$2.3 million higher than FY 2014 budgeted total expenses.

Learn more about CA’s budgets for Fiscal Year 2015 at ColumbiaAssociation.org, click on “Transparency” and “CA Budget.” n

* Total Capital Expenditures of $14,810have been increased by $558 due tocertain unallocated non-cashadjustments.

* The most recent financial statementsand independent audit report arelocated at ColumbiaAssociation.org.

This data representation is not inaccordance with Generally AcceptedAccounting Principles (GAAP).

MOREINFORMATIONcan be found regarding CA and the issues on the horizonin Fiscal Year 2015 by visiting ColumbiaAssociation.org.

Columbia Association FY 2015 Approved Budget ($000’s)Summary of Funds, Expenditures and Annual Borrowings

Capital Expenditures*

$15,36820.7%

Community Services Programs

$5,999 8.1%

Village Community Associations

$4,981 6.7%

Contingencies/Other

$1,793 2.4%

Sport/Fitness Programs

and Facilities$26,95336.4%

Open SpaceManagement

$12,280 16.6%

AdministrativeServices$1,445 2.0%

Board of Directors

$943 1.3%

Debt Repayment

$4,338 5.8%

CommercialAnnual Charge$12,196 16.4%

CommunityServices Programs

$4,1365.6%

Sport and Fitness Income$26,780 36.1%

ResidentialAnnual Charge$22,65130.6%

Borrowings$7,706 10.4%

Interest and Others

$631 0.9%

where the money is used$74,100

where the money comes from$74,100

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Board of Directors: Includesadministrative costs for supporting the CA Board

Administrative Services:Departmental costs related tosupporting the organization

Capital Expenditures: Includes items such as construction andimprovements to new and existingbuildings and land, as well as costsfor vehicles, equipment, etc.

FAQs

For about$1.28aday*,you help make Columbia one of the

best places toliveinthecountry.We think that’s a pretty good investment.The average Columbia resident household pays an annual charge of just $1.28 a day, per person. This gives all of us open space, lakes, bridges, pathways, village community centers, tot lots and concerts; reduces the cost for camps, pools, gyms, golf and tennis; helps support bigger projects such as completing a pathway loop around Lake Kittamaqundi and improved pathway connectivity aroundColumbia; village center master planning; watershed protection and restoration; and more. When you figure a latte at your local coffee shop averages about $4, what you pay CA goes pretty far.

WhyIPayCA.orgWe invite you to go to WhyIPayCA.org to learn moreabout where your annual chargegoes. The more you know, the more we think you’ll feel good knowing how much you get for your money.

Why do I have to pay CA?CA is a community-controlled,private, non-profit servicecorporation created to provideservices and amenities for thebenefit of Columbia. In order toensure that financial resources willalways be available to maintainCA’s property and amenities, thedevelopers of Columbia added toevery CA residential, commercialor industrial property CAcovenants, which are attached toevery deed that requires you topay the annual charge.

Will my lender pay theannual charge for me?Some lenders do and some don’t;check your mortgage escrowaccount and speak with yourlender. The annual chargeresembles a tax to the extent that it is a first lien against yourproperty and has priority overyour mortgage.

Why do I now pay morethan the previous owner?The state’s phase-in value is usedthe first year following a purchase to calculate theannual charge, and that value may be higher than theprevious owner’s last value.

$1.28 a day per person based on an average residential property value of $350,000 with an average of 2.53 persons per household.

Are you wondering why you pay an annual charge?answers

*

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&

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Energy and GHGEmissionsCA is actively working to reduce the energyconsumption and GHGemissions associated with its operations. Numerousupgrades have been madethroughout CA’s buildingportfolio to reduce lightingloads, improve the efficiency of air conditioning and waterheating equipment andoperate our facilities so theyuse less energy. ReducingCA’s energy consumption by 10 percent will saveapproximately $250,000 inutility costs and reduce GHGemissions by 1,000 metrictons of carbon dioxideequivalent (MTCO2e) each year.

Watershed EnergyManagement&

WasteManagement CA actively works tomanage its waste in asustainable manner.From scrap metalrecovery to plantmaterial mulching and composting, CA is helping to reuseresources and divertmaterials away fromlandfills. These effortshelp to reduce CA’sindirect GHGemissions associatedwith raw materialproduction and landfilldisposal.

Watershed Management CA’s watershed managementprogram has been working hardto implement the WatershedManagement Plan accepted bythe CA Board of Directors in2009. Stormwater runoff carriessediment into our streams, causesstream bank erosion and fills ourlakes and ponds with thesediment. The runoff includesnitrogen and phosphorus carriedoff of lawns and pet waste fromsidewalks and lawns, all of whichend up in our lakes and pondsand degrade water quality.Program achievements to helpaddress these issues includeplanting eight acres of trees, theconstruction of 10 bioretentionfacilities, and 3 large-scale streamrestoration projects.

CA operations effect the environment in numerous ways through the management of our

facilities and open space. Below we highlight aspects of our operations that effect energy

and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, watershed quality and waste management.

Awards

Columbia Association and the business communityAccolade after accolade make Columbia one the best places

in the country for people to live, work and play. CA doesn’t just

provide amenities and programs for residents. It also benefits

the local businesses and our regional economy by providing

quality-of-life amenities that make Columbia and the

surrounding area more attractive for professionals, families

and businesses to locate here.

While 70 percent of CA’s annual charge revenue is collected

from residents, 30 percent comes from businesses on

CA-assessed property. If your company is located on property

protected by CA covenants, your full-time employees can

purchase an individual CA membership for themselves at the

CA resident price or apply the individual discounts toward

the purchase of a two-member or family membership. n

Columbia has been recognized with the following:Top WorkplaceThe Baltimore Sun, 2013

Gold Level Healthy WorkplaceHealthy Howard, 2013

Number 2Best Place to Live (jointly with Ellicott City), CNN/Money Magazine, 2010

Number 4Best Place to Live (jointly with Ellicott City), CNN/Money Magazine, 2006

Number 7Town to Live Well, Forbes Magazine, 2009

Number 8Best Place to Live (jointly with Ellicott City), CNN/Money Magazine, 2008 and 2012

Number 8City to Date a Nerd Match.com, 2011

Number 10Perfect Suburb CNBC, 2011

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&Accolades

FY2014Major accomplishments and initiatives

FY2014 was a great year forColumbia Association (CA) and much was accomplished.Last fiscal year, CA completed“Community for a Lifetime — Columbia Association’sComprehensive Plan for Servingthe Older Adult Community” tobetter understand what olderadults would like to see in termsof programs and services thatcan serve them as they age.

The organization also finishedwork on the new ColumbiaDogPark in Harper’s Choice.Construction began on a newHobbit’s Glen Golf Clubclubhouse and turnhouse. CA also commenced the designand engineering for Haven on theLake, a mind body wellnessretreat in Downtown Columbia.

CA’s newly designed websiteColumbiaAssociation.org waslaunched, and a strategic planwas updated and approved. CAalso started the Excite Columbiaresidents academy and hostedtwo sessions to educate residentson what Columbia Associationdoes and how the organizationoperates. n

Upcoming major initiatives As we look toward the future of the Columbia Association (CA) and our community, there are plenty of new initiatives on the horizon. At the beginning of the fiscal year, CA launched the new CA Strategic Plan to guide the direction of the CA Board of Directors and the organization as a whole.During this upcoming fiscal year, CA will also be focused oncompleting the clubhouse at the Hobbit’s Glen Golf Club. CA will also be moving forward to complete construction on and host the grand opening of the Haven on the Lake mind and body wellness retreat. To learn more about upcoming initiatives and projects, visit

ColumbiaAssociation.org. n

Anew spiritwithin Columbia Association

FY2015

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Get involved in the bestcommunity association

Whether you have a fewhours a week or a few daysa month to offer, optionsare abound if you want to get more involved inlocal leadership.

Columbia is a plannedcommunity governed bythe Columbia Association(CA) Board of Directors(which handles thebusiness affairs of CA) and the village communityassociation boards (whichmanage the businessaffairs of the ten Columbiavillage communityassociations). But that’s not all. There are alsocommittees and work

teams that could use the help of dedicated,thoughtful and enthusiasticColumbia residents. You can learn about the

many leadershipopportunities available in Columbia by visitingColumbiaAssociation.org/Leadership.

Columbia Card Available toColumbia ResidentsCA AmenitiesWithout a MembershipPeople who live on CA-assessed propertypay reduced admissionand program fees with a free Columbia Card.Visit the MembershipService Center andshow your driver’slicense or imprintedpersonal check to verify your residency.

Jointhefun!

Don’t have a membership?No problem!

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Get involved!Go to ColumbiaAssociation.org/Leadership

Via Membership

You can sign up formembership at asingle facility, or youcan sign up forPackage Plan, whichprovides you withaccess to all CAfacilities. Membershipprices are discountedfor those who live orwork on propertyprotected by the CA covenants.

OPPORTUNITIES

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How to Participate in Columbia Association’s Facilities and

Programs

How to Join

To purchase amembership plan orobtain a Columbia Card,visit CA’s MembershipService Center (MSC),Monday-Saturday from10am-7pm, at 10221Wincopin Circle, 21044 or call 410-730-1801. For more information onincome-qualified discountprograms and Earn-a-Membership programs,contact the MSC.

Via Columbia Card

CA residents who don’twant to purchase amembership mayobtain a free ColumbiaCard and access themembership facilitieson a “pay-as-you-go”basis. The ColumbiaCard is availableexclusively forresidents who live on property protectedby the CA covenants.

It’s easier thanever to find us!ColumbiaAssociation.orgFacebook.com/ColumbiaAssociationIssuu.com/CA-ColumbiaAssociationTwitter.com/ColumbiaAssnYouTube.com/CATVchannel

ColumbiaAssociation

Connect with

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