ACHR management committee unanimously approves 2027 budgets for four senior housing complexes

The ACHR management committee approved the 2027 operating budgets for four senior housing complexes — The Willows of Ham Lake, Savannah Oaks, Chauncey Barrett Gardens and The Oaks of Lake George — in a unanimous roll-call vote. Trustee Schulte moved to approve the budgets as presented and Trustee Jepsen seconded; recorded votes were Aye from Trustee Brasstead, Trustee Rynert, Trustee Gamache, Trustee Scholte, Trustee Jepsen, Trustee Meisner, Trustee Heinrich and the chair, and the chair declared the motion passed unanimously.

Shane Redlaine of Ehlers gave a brief overview of the budgets and the annual process for setting preliminary budgets, saying staff will implement the adopted budgets during calendar year 2027. Redlaine noted that projects typically have about 50 units and that Chauncey Barrett Gardens operates in two phases. He told trustees the recommended rent adjustments are 1.5% for new leases at The Willows, 4.5% for Chauncey Barrett and 3% for Savannah Oaks and The Oaks of Lake George. "If that continues on for an extended period of time, obviously, your operating costs will eat all your revenue," Redlaine said, urging trustees to consider modest increases in the context of rising expenses.

The committee recorded a brief discussion about whether other cities in Anoka County are pursuing similar projects and then moved the budgets forward. The board will implement the approved 2027 budgets during the coming year, and staff indicated they will carry forward the capital-improvement planning and routine implementation activities discussed during the presentation.