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Monthly Fees

Homeowners pay a monthly fee to both the Great Island Homeowners Association (HOA) and The Pinehills Landowners Association (LOA) to cover the costs of operating the community. These, together with monthly utility connection fees make up the fixed costs of owning a home in Great Island. The monthly fees in Great Island in 2009 amounted to:.

Great Island HOA Fee	$	250	/mth
The Pinehills LOA Fee	$	50	/mth
Sewer Connection Fee	$	60	/mth	($2.00 per day)
Water Connection Fee	$	12	/mth	(40.55 ¢ per day)
Fire Protection Fee	$	13	/mth	(41.54 ¢ per day)
TOTAL	$	385	/mth

Assessments

Special Assessments are always a possibility. For example, in 2005 each unit in Great Island was assessed $700 to cover the unexpected expenses of a snow season that exceeded 100 inches. The community is now carrying a capital reserve to cover such unexpected costs.

Utilities

Water

The Pinehills Water Company rates are established with the approval of the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy.

"The rates are  based on pro forma costs as estimated at build-out, which is projected to be 2010." ..."unless this "full, buildout" approach is used, early customers will be unduly burdened by high rates." [ref]

Water is billed at $7.90 per 1,000 gallons by The Pinehills Water Company. This is 6 times the $1.78 per 1000 gallons ($1.33 per 100 cubic feet) that is charged by the Town of Plymouth. If you include the connection fees and assume an average water use of 3500 gallons per month, this is more than 8 times what is charged by the Town of Plymouth for water services.

Comment By A Resident: "Yes, water bills are astronomical! When we moved in last Spring, we left our irrigation settings as the landscapers set it and found a hefty $500 water bill for the month. At first it was amusing since we thought it was in error or some leak. But, it was instead incredibly high rates - especially when watering the lawn. Our settings have been rolled back, but [you] can still expect $200 to $300 a month during heavy use season."

Sewer

Sewer services are billed at a flat rate of $60 per month by the Pinehills Waste Water Treatment Facility. Assuming an average water use of 3500 gallons per month, this is 4 times the $4.54 per 1000 gallons ($3.39 per 100 cubic feet) that is charged by the Town of Plymouth for sewer services

Cable/Internet

The Comcast standard cable package starts at $55 / mth and their internet service starts at $60 / mth. Verizon's DSL internet service is also available starting at $18 per month.

Natural Gas

NSTAR Gas bills natural gas at $1.64 per Therm (i.e. the Total Charge for Gas divided by the Therms Billed during the peak heating season (February, 2007 ).

Electricity

NSTAR Electric bills electricity at 19.1¢ per KWH. (i.e. the Total Cost of Electricity divided by the Billed Use (KWH) during the peak cooling season (August, 2006 ).

Phone

The Comcast Digital Voice service starts at $45 /  mth.

Insurance

Great Island is not in a flood plain but it is in a known fire hazard area and its coastal location makes it more susceptible to hurricane damage.

Property Taxes

Although Great Island does not use many town services normally supported by the property tax (including the school system, since no one under 18 can reside in the community), owners still pay the full tax assessment for the Town of Plymouth.

Fiscal Year	Tax Rate Per $1000 of Asssessed Value	Percent Increase
2010	12.42	12.1%
2009	11.07	7.2%
2008	10.33	6.4%
2007	9.71	-1.7%
2006	9.88	-5.3%
2005	10.43	-11.7%
2004	11.81	-4.0%
2003	12.3	-13.7%
2002	14.26	-12.5%
2001	16.3	-6.8%
2000	17.48	-5.5%
1999	18.49	-9.0%
1998	20.32	0.6%
1997	20.19	-0.1%
1996	20.22	6.1%
1995	19.06

SOURCE: Town of Plymouth

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