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DEERFIELD NEWS CONNECTION
April 09, 2025
Security & Maintenance Fees Pay $119,000 in Avoidable Costs
Unnecessary Expenses Identified
Deerfield Resort’s financial records revealed nearly $119,000 in fees and penalties that were incurred between 2019 and 2024. These expenses could have been avoided with better administrative processes and oversight. The fees include government fines, tax-related penalties, and overdraft banking fees.
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Environmental Fine – $19,080: In 2019, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation issued a fine to the Deerfield Resort Homeowners Association for violations related to the community water system.
Why were Security & Maintenance fees used to pay a fine for the Deerfield Water System?
TDEC Letter to Deerfield Resort HOA
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Bounced Checks – $2,695: Between 2021 and 2022, the HOA issued 77 checks that were returned for insufficient funds, resulting in nearly $2,700 in NSF bank fees.
Why were Security & Maintenance fees used to pay the fines for this financial mismanagement?
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IRS Delinquent Payments – $85,605.92: Unpaid payroll taxes between 2022 and 2024 resulted in over $85,000 in IRS payments including the accrued penalties and interest.
Why were Security & Maintenance fees used to pay penalty and interest fines on taxes the Fields did not pay on time?
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State Distress Warrant – $11,535.77: In April 2024, the State of Tennessee issued a Distress Warrant Notice for unpaid unemployment taxes.
Why weren't these required payroll taxes paid on time?
TN Distress Warrant Notice
Available Funds But Bills Went Unpaid
As of December 31, 2024, the Deerfield Resort account held $62,286.59. That same year, unpaid IRS taxes and a state-issued distress warrant notice totaled $55,725.85. Available records show these could have been paid with existing funds, possibly avoiding extra penalties and interest.
Loan Activity Raises Questions About Financial Priorities
Between 2021 and 2022, Fields Real Estate allegedly loaned $110,000 to Fields Development Company, with repayments made in 2023. Bank statements show that $87,500 of that repayment came from the Deerfield Resort’s Security & Maintenance account, funded by homeowner fees without their knowledge or approval.
During this same period, the HOA faced unpaid tax obligations and fines totaling nearly $56,000—costs attributed to delayed payments and administrative oversights.
Were loans necessary because Security & Maintenance funds had been depleted paying avoidable, unnecessary tax penalties and bank fines caused by financial mismanagement?​