Deerfield News Connection

January 22, 2025​

 

As The Court Ordered

 

Judge Boniface signed the Order in response to the Receivers Report on January 6 giving all parties 20 days to comply. The order was officially filed in the Chancery Court of Campbell County on January 13.  The Plaintiffs' attorney immediately transferred all plaintiffs Security and Maintenance fees to the receiver on January 13. This makes the Plaintiffs in compliance with the court and paid in full. The funds are to be used exclusively for election expenses and/or Court approved expenses.

 

if every property owner had been billed for every lot owned. 

 

Documents used in the Depositions of Paula and Scott provided worrisome facts regarding invoicing and collection of the Security & Maintenance fees.  

 

The information below taken from Exhibits 27, 28, 29, & 30 from the depositions shows the amount of lost revenue from unpaid Security and Maintenance fees. This is calculated based on the billing strategy of the Fields for Deerfield Resort of $500 per home, $250 per lot, $100 per hangar. The number of property owners who did not pay Security & Maintenance has varied over the years, as has the number of plaintiffs who either paid to Deerfield Resort or to the plaintiffs Attorneys trust account. From 2020 through 2024 only 29 Plaintiffs' paid the fees to the attorneys trust account while the rest of the plaintiffs paid to Deerfield Resort.

 

 

2018 – Exhibit 27 

 

77 Property Owners did not pay Security & Maintenance fees to Deerfield Resort for a total of $21,500 in lost revenue: 

 

21 Homes @ $500 = $10,500

 5 Hangars @ $100 = $500

42 Lots @ $250 = $10,500

 9 listed with no information         

 

2019 – Exhibit 28

 

104 Property Owners did not pay for a total of $24,250 unpaid fees: 

19 Homes @ $500 = $9500

5 Hangars @ $100 = $500

57 Lots @ $250 = $14250

21 listed with no information 

 

2020 – Exhibit 29

 

141 did not pay for a total of $46,550 unpaid fees: 

 

57 Homes @ $500 = $28500 

8 Hangars @ $100 = $800

69 Lots @$250 = $17250

7 listed with no information

 

2021 – Exhibit 30

 

78 did not pay for a total of $23,100 unpaid fees:

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31 Homes @ $500.00 = $15,500

11 Hangars @ $100.00 = $1100

26 Lots @ $250.00 = $6500

10 listed with no information

 

Over these 4 years alone the total amount of money the Deerfield Resort HOA did not collect is $115,400.

This amount does not include the lost revenue of not billing for every lot in Deerfield. In the past, if a Homeowner owned additional lots within Deerfield Resort they only paid for their home, because of this policy the Fields record keeping does not reflect the unrealized income that could have helped prevent the claimed “financial shortfalls” every year.  

 

2024

 

For 2024 the Security & Maintenance fees were increased for all properties to $750 per home, condo, villa or hangar with apartment, and $375 per lot or hangar (no apartment).  Using the number of properties reported by the Fields in January 2024 the below shows how much revenue is possible if every property owner is billed for every property owned. These numbers include the properties owned by the Fields family and their business entities (134 properties on the list provided to the receiver in January, 2024).

 

358 Homes @ $750.00 = $268,500

127 Villas @ $750.00 = $95,250

144 Condos @ $750.00 = $108,000

319 Lots @ $375.00 = $119,625

39 Hangars @ $375.00 = $14,625

   (no information on number of Hangars with apartments)

 

The total of possible revenue is $606,000. The actual amount collected has not been provided.

 

Going Forward

 

As Deerfield Resort transitions from the developer controlled HOA to a homeowner controlled HOA, effective financial management will be vital. Electing a dedicated, pragmatic board of directors is essential to ensuring a successful future for Deerfield Resort.

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