Continued from page 22 Why don’ t we use the carbon credit revenues that we already received? The initial carbon credit revenue of $ 450,000 is invested in an account that cannot be touched for the duration of the carbon credit contract expiring with ANEW, formally known as Bluesource, in 2031. That number has grown to around $ 540,000 as of May 2025. The bylaws require us to keep that money to protect the club in the future for any unforeseen carbon credit related expenses. Using that money today could set up the club for unforeseen expenditure payments that we don’ t have the money for.
What carbon credit expenses do we have currently? Carbon credit expenses are fairly low at this time with only a $ 5,000 budgeted amount for potential legal expenses related to the project.
What is the amount of this proposed Resource Fund increase? In 2025, the allocation would be $ 205.61( including surrendered memberships from the 2006 total certificate count). It will generate $ 285,000 annually, making up for these declining gas revenues. The proposed amount can increase each year by no more than the CPI or a maximum of 5 %, whichever is lower, as currently stated in the bylaws of the Operating Fund.
How is the consumer price index( CPI) calculated? Currently, for the Operating Fund, the CPI is calculated based on the annual percentage change in the Consumer Price Index( CPI) for Michigan as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor as measured by the difference between the third and second preceding calendar years,( for example, 2024 dues are computed by comparing the percentage change in the CPI from 2021 to 2022). This number is provided to CCR from our CPAs.
Can the amount I pay as an individual member change each year? Yes. The committee proposes $ 285,000 annually plus an annual Consumer Price Index( CPI). The amount you pay would be similar to the Ranch Insurance and the Ranch Tax line items.
• If there are 1,385 certificates, the total amount would be: o $ 285,000 / 1,385 = $ 205.77.
• If there are 1,500 certificates, the total amount would be: o $ 285,000 / 1,500 = $ 190.00.
Using the same example with a 3 % CPI on the $ 285,000, the total would be $ 293,550.
• If there are 1,385 certificates, the total amount would be: o $ 293,550 / 1,385 = $ 211.95.
• If there are 1,500 certificates, the total amount would be: o $ 293,550 / 1,500 = $ 195.70.
An extra $ 205 in dues is a lot of money! Actually, it works out to about 56 cents per member per day for the first year.
• If you drive to Onaway and back, you’ ll spend more on gas than you’ ll spend on your membership that day, even in a vehicle that gets 30 mpg.
• A medium Big Mac meal from McDonalds costs more than three days’ worth of dues.
• That’ s 52 % less than a giant cinnamon roll from the Woodwinds Restaurant.
• Each membership funds the planting of 150 acres of trees for 22 cents a day.
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