Tara Community Structure
Because the expense of maintaining and insuring Association commons
property obligations and professional managerial functions the TMA is
required to assess all homeowners (single family and condominium owners)
an annual fee to cover such expenses. The budget for the current year is
available on this web site by selecting the Finance tab.
Meetings of the Board of Directors are usually quarterly and are open to all
members of the Master Association. Members are encouraged to attend Board
meetings. Dates and times of the meetings are posted on TV channels 117/795
and 118/796.
TARA PHASE I - TARA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
Phase I of the Tara community was the earliest developed and consists of 871
single family homes, condominiums, and golf villas. These residences have a
deeded equity participation that requires that they are Class A (full golf and
social) or Class B (social) members of the Tara Golf & Country Club (TGCC).
These units are governed by the TGCC Umbrella Document. Social
memberships in the Club may often be purchased by any unit owner in Tara or
the Preserve.
Also in Phase I there are approximately 148 homes and condominiums that are
not required to be members of TGCC. These residences are primarily located
in Fairway Gardens I or II, Melrose Gardens and Plantation.
All of the 1,019 Phase I residences are subject to either the TGCC or
Plantation Architectural Review or the ARC related to the appropriate
condominium associations.
All Phase I residents pay the same Tara Master Association fee that is paid by
the Preserve residents.
TARA PHASE II - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT (CDD)
The C.D.D. concept was established in the 1990's by the Florida State
Legislature as a means for the developers to fund community infrastructure by
borrowing money, at lowered municipal bond interest rates. This permitted
developers to finance the cost of constructing the streets, sewers, water lines,
lighting, landscaping, etc. This method of financing could also include buildings
such as the Preserve’s Community Center, tennis courts, community pools, and
maintenance of such items. The Preserve streets were turned over to Manatee
County, but the balance of the items continue as an ongoing maintenance cost to
the C.D.D. homeowner/members (single family and condominium owners) of the
Preserve. Even though the privately owned golf course and club house are part
of the Preserve they manage their own maintenance but do still pay their fair
share of the C.D.D. tax. Control of the C.D.D. was turned over by the developer,
to the home owners in the Preserve in 2004. At that time a new Board of
Supervisors was elected by the home owners. The Board of Supervisors is
comprised of five home owners who reside in the Preserve.
The C.D.D. Board of Supervisors also manages the escrow account to pay off the
long-term bond which was sold to pay for the initial development. This method of
financing was created to lower the cost of building the infrastructure and paying
for it with low interest money over a long period of time.
The C.D.D. properties include the landscape on Tara Boulevard from Tara
Preserve Lane south to Linger Lodge Road, around the Community Center, pool
and tennis courts, around the lakes, under the FPL high lines and other areas.
The C.D.D. is also responsible for maintenance of the C.D.D. properties, the
plumbing and pumps for the lakes and the water quality. In addition, the C.D.D. is
responsible for irrigating and maintaining the lawns, bushes and flowers in these
areas.
In the Preserve at Tara, the golf course (including the club house) and all
homeowners in the Preserve are required to pay an annual non-ad valorem
assessment which is included on the Manatee County annual tax bill. The
assessment includes the cost of maintaining and management of the
properties and repayment of the bond issue. The tax line item is listed at the
bottom of the bill and is titled “Tara CDD.”
The C.D.D. Board of Supervisors is scheduled to meet on the last Thursday of
each month in the Community Center building located on Tara Preserve Lane.
Meeting dates and times are posted on TV channels 118/796. All members are
encouraged to attend the Board meetings.
PRESERVE GOLF VILLAS LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION (GVLA)
The Golf Villas Landscape Association l, Inc. was established by the Preserve
developer to assure continued proper maintenance of 232 lots in the
Association. The GVLA is a secondary or sub association within the Tara
Master Association and is a section or part of the Tara I CDD. The Association
was turned over to the homeowners in March, 2005.
Unlike the C.D.D. and the Master Association, the GVLA owns no common
facilities or property. As a result, the only responsibility of the Association is to
contract with a landscape company and a management firm to provide
administrative and management functions.
The landscape responsibility includes maintaining all sod, shrubs, other
landscaping and the irrigation system of each lot initially installed. The cost of
maintaining any added landscaping or additional irrigation plumbing added and
approved by the Architectural Review Committee, will be billed to the
homeowner. As with the C.D.D., the TMA the Golf Villas Landscape Association
must asses the homeowners for its operations and maintenance expenses.
All meetings of the Board of Directors are open to all members of the GVLA.
Members are encouraged to attend Board meetings which are scheduled on
the First Thursday of each month. The time and date are also posted on TV
channels 118/796.
Note: As can be seen all four separate organizations provide a range of
services which maintain the outstanding beauty and amicable lifestyle of the
entire Preserve at Tara and all three have annual assessments that are paid
by the members. .
