HOA Question Snow-removal budget?

Hello,

I'm just wondering how the latest storm is going to impact the snow-removal budget. Will the HOA be looking to cut back in other areas (and if so, which ones) or will there be a special assessment levied or will the dues just go up to account for it the following year? I, for one, wouldn't mind paying a special assessment to ensure that the streets are well taken care of. Thanks.

 

I think it is safe to say that there will be an increase in dues next year.

 

If this storm is like the previous blizzard it will be well over the budgeted costs. There has been some discussion of what will need to be done to make up for these high costs - but no decissions yet. I think it is pretty safe to say that there will be no special assessment. 1) You dont mind, but others probably would paying it 2) Special Assessments do not look good to mortgage company when they look at lending for a house.

 

Last year's, and now this year's, snow removal budget has been blown to shreds. We will need to increase the HOA fees to accommodate for it. This will be in 2011.
The residents on private streets will get hit the hardest. Not only do they have a smaller pool of people paying, but that is where the majority of the expense occurs.
There will also be an increase for the entire Broadlands community for the HOA Common Area snow removal.
Don't ask how much because this winter is far from over!

 

Cliff,
is it possible to do a single payment to cover the snow removal costs and keep the HOA fee to a "normal" rate of inflation increase?

Something like a $300 bill for each resident to cover the 2010 snow budget shortfall. $300 would equal an annual $25/mo HOA fee increase.

We would know that the additional dollars are going specifically to the snow budget shortfall and the base HOA fee would remain consistent. Next year, if we don't have snow, the base HOA budget is good to go.

 

Put a donation box at the Broadlands Live events. See what you get.

 

This. And set up a paypal account with a big DONATE button on the HOA Web site.

 

my guess? $14, 50 complaints and 100 gum wrappers...

 

Maybe if the HOA covered pipstems or got the plows here sooner.. I know several people that have HOA's with 2-3 hour responses in their contracts. 24 hours later our roads are not even touched.

Increase the price when you have an acceptable solution. I don't care for the 2-3 hour response time but looking outside and seeing no plows have attempted to come through is unacceptable.

 

thornblade cir, as it appears view the newsletter I just looked at, Van Metre controls it. Surprise surprise?

I apologize to the HOA and its snow removal since I just found out they have nothing to do with our street.

 

Interesting the rate goes up during a bad winter but yet we don't get any money back on winters that are under budget.

 

Any individual line item in the budget that comes in above/below what is projected is absorbed back into the overall budget. Many, many line items in a yearly budget come in over or under the projected amount.

One thing we can consider is a snow plowing "lock box" budget item. If we have a year where the snow removal is under budget, it would remain there and not get absorbed into the rest of the general budget. This could help build up a fund to deal woth years where we spend more. We do have to be careful that this fund does not get too big, otherwise the tax man puts his hand out.

 

Pull it out of OpenBand's bountiful coffers. The way I see it we had to plow so they could get their trucks in to repair their crummy television service. I'd rather see other items reduced to cover the snow budget than have to pay more at all. Can we please exercise some of that...what's it called??...restraint...when it comes to hitting us up for more $$$. <Insert boiler-plate inflammatory comment about democratic congress here>.

I do like the lock box idea. Not sure if there was a contigency fund before, should have had one then, should definately have one now.

 

Generally I am not a fan of any increase in HOA dues, however I would completely understand either an increase or a special assessment for this winter. The HOA's contractor is absolutely wonderful and worth his fees.

 

Just to set the record straight, the Broadlands (Master's) HOA dues is not responsible nor affiliated with the Openband (Southern Walk HOA) rates.

If you have concerns about the Southern Walk (Openband) rates, please feel free to contact any of the Southern Walk HOA members.

 

I would welcome your recommendations of where we have items in the budget to cut.
If we eliminated ALL discretionary spending such as Broadlands Live, all community events, it still wouldn't come CLOSE to covering this shortfall.