Special Community Benefit District and Erosion Control District

Anne Arundel County conferred Special Community Benefit District designation on Columbia Beach in 1971. As an SCBD, the community is responsible for the safety, security, and upkeep of all community facilities, including roads and public spaces.

The community has been designated an Erosion Control District because of its location abutting the Chesapeake Bay. ECD funds are used for combatting shoreline erosion.

CBCIA Governance

The CBCIA Board of Directors is composed of five association officers and four standing committee chairs. The offices are president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and at-large director. The four standing committees are facilities, security, erosion control, and activities.

The CBCIA Board holds membership meetings at least four times a year, typically in February, May, August, and December. Members receive notification of upcoming meetings either by email or by postal mail at their county address of record. Membership votes, such as votes for board members and the budget, require that a quorum of 20 CBCIA members be present. Residents may be included in the quorum when they cannot attend the meeting by filling out the Proxy Voting Form.

At the May membership meeting, Columbia Beach homeowners elect CBCIA officers who serve two-year terms effective July 1. The president cannot serve more than two consecutive two-year terms. No term limits are imposed for other board members. The president appoints, and membership approves, committee chairs. At the December meeting, the board presents the proposed budget, which runs July 1 to June 30, for ratification.

CBCIA is not a homeowners association and does not collect dues. All homeowners in the community are automatically members of the association and eligible to run for election to the board and to vote at membership meetings.

CBCIA Duties and Responsibilities

The CBCIA manages the community’s responsibilities as a Special Community Benefit District and an Erosion Control District. To carry out these responsibilities, the CBCIA Board of Directors creates a yearly budget based on community needs and priorities that is ratified by the association membership and approved by the county. The budget is funded by property tax revenues, which are collected by the county and returned to the community on a yearly basis. The Board is prohibited from using SCBD funds for social activities, such as Columbia Beach Day. Social activities undertaken by CBCIA are funded by donation.