Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Raising money

[Lynn Nadeau (welcome]

At RoseWind Cohousing, Port Townsend WA, we have until now had a 
flat-rate assessment, an equal share of the annual operating budget. As 
we look at the future, we see our common house coming into use, with 
those operating costs, and also more income diversity among members. We 
are currently considering various potential systems for assessments. 

We decided not to consider a basis of taxable income, citing privacy 
issues and other factors. Nor to allow substitution of sweat equity in 
lieu of cash contribution, since we hope everyone will do volunteer work, 
and for our operating budget, we need cash. 

The three systems we will examine in discussion circles include an option 
(#3) which might apply to this thread about funding "extras".

1. A flat rate.

2. An assessment based on the County-assessed value of the Owner's home 
(as we have a great range of size and finish).

3. A Basic fee, assessed equally, to cover what is needed for continuing 
operations as is. An Enhancement fee, sliding scale, which would go 
towards new projects.  The contributions to the latter would be tallied, 
and shortfall handled either by trimming lower priority items, or coming 
up with gifts to fund them. 

(PS Our annual operating budget has run between $200 and $500 a year, but 
may jump to closer to $800 once we have full common house operation. Some 
people think that would be no big deal, and others are very upset at the 
prospect of what they see as very high fees.)(Individual households pay 
their own utilities, maintenance, and property taxes.)

We  have used donations in the past to cover various projects, and have 
generally found it a satisfactory way of avoiding being held to the 
lowest common denominator of available money. So far, it hasn't caused 
any animosities that I know of. Sometimes there's something that some 
members don't object to, as long as they don't have to pay for it.