Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: condo fees

[Jude Foster (foster.jude]

At Trillium Hollow (in Portland Oregon) our HOA dues process has been clarified 
and refined in the last few years into this system, which is working really 
well for us:

The annual budget includes three levels:  
Level 1 includes the legally required costs managed by the Legal/Financial team 
(all utilities, insurance, legal fees, etc.)
Level 2 includes all the teams' budgets (approval of these involves full 
consensus at the Budget Faire).
Level 3 are special projects which teams or members can bring forward, by 
individuals, with their share of the $ left after Levels 1 and 2 are funded.  
This “funny money” is divided up by adult.  This year we each got $141.  We 
have funded everything from a play structure to a sauna to a garden shed to a 
workshop with Level 3 in the last few years.  Not every Level 3 project or 
proposal is funded.

Dues increases each year are now set to COLA, the cost-of-living increase 
(unless some circumstance in the future forces us to raise dues more.)
Any Roll-over ($ left at end of year from Level 1 or Level 2)  goes toward the 
following year’s Level 1, and the balance to the Community Contingency fund.  
Handling Roll-over openly, approved by the HOA, is a legally-required process.

Dues are based on the square footage of the unit, an approach that was decided 
in the community’s early years (before my time). 
We have studios, one-bedrooms, various layouts for 2 bedrooms, 3 bedrooms, and 
4 bedroom units.
Monthly dues for 2014 range from $181 for a studio to $559 for a 4-bedroom.

I hope this is helpful!
Jude