Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: HOA fees determined by or in part by income?

[Elizabeth Magill (pastorlizm]

We planned to have sliding scale HOA dues but determined that it is not
legal to do that in Massachusetts.

So we have removed from HOA dues all the things that might be considered
"optional" for an HOA, but are cohousing activities. The obvious is special
events like labor day and memorial day bouncy house rentals. But also
washing machines, hot tub, new furniture for the great room. A big hunk of
our electric bill.

Remaining in HOA is reserves, insurance, water, septic, and snow plowing.

So we have HOA dues and Cohousing pledges.

We approve the HOA dues each year with little discussion, there simply
isn't much that can be removed from that budget.

Then our cohousing dues we calculate the average needed from each
household, which most years is in the $89 to $95 range I believe. Then
everyone pledges what they can afford. To remain a member of the cohousing
group a household must pledge at least 5% of the average. (We do nothing to
determine what a household can afford, they decide that for themselves.)
If we don't hit the total on the first pass, we announce how much we are
off, and people, so far at least, raise their bids to match the need.
We have something in our process that would allow us to remove expenses,
but we have not done that yet that I can remember.

I like the system.

(Note that our HOA dues are horribly high. I'm in the middle-sized home
here and pay over $800 per month. Then I pledge cohousing dues on top of
that.)

-Liz
Mosaic Commons Cohousing, Berlin, MA
www.elizabethmaemagill.com
508-450-0431


On Mon, Aug 26, 2024 at 9:54 AM Chris Hansen <itschrishansen [at] gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hi everyone
> We are wondering whether any cohousing community has a process
> of determining their level of HOA fees on the basis of personal
> income/wealth?
> If so, how did you do that?
> If you've tried and it hasn't come into being, I'd love to know what:
> - happened,
> - was the intent
> - were the obstacles
> - was the outcome?
> Thanks!
>
> --
> Chris Hansen (sher/her)
> 32 East Village Drive
> Burlington
> Vermont 05401
> USA
>
> Ph 603 3988730
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