Why we pay dues … and other fascinating facts
A nominal annual association fee is levied on 24 of the 25 properties in the neighborhood for the sole purpose of funding the association’s yearly responsibilities. [Whoever serves as secretary/treasurer has dues waived, according to long-standing practice of the association.] Dues are set each May by a majority vote of the homeowners who attend the annual community meeting. For the last several years, the dues have remained stable — in effect, the cost of running the association has declined with inflation.
How is the money used? In winter, it covers snow removal for the commonly owned sidewalk areas — primarily the Skyline path near the bus stop, as well as the pavement around the outside of the Skyline curve.
In summer, the funds cover grass cutting and maintenance on the common areas [around the curve, in the drainage basin] – plus any additional maintenance needs that crop up. Recently, for instance, the association had a large tree taken down and a couple of paving blocks replaced.
Finally, the dues cover liability insurance costs for the common area and for our directors’ insurance, as well as any needed repairs to the sidewalks. On rare occasions, we may need to decide as a community to impose a special one-time assessment to cover extraordinary costs. For instance, we had to do this some years ago to redo the spillway in the drainage basin.
Meetings are held at last once a year, and more often if additional association business arises. The annual meeting takes place in May, following notice to every neighbor.
Officers are elected each year: a president, vice president, and secretary/treasurer. Only the treasurer receives compensation — in the form of having the annual dues forgiven each year. The treasurer maintains the bank account of the association, keeps current our insurance, and coordinates a number of payments to our landscape maintenance company.
No payment can be issued by the association without signatures from at least two officers.
Things we do
New homeowners often ask …
Does the association trim trees around our homes?
Does it fix cracks in the sidewalks in front of our homes?
Answer: No, those are responsibilities of individual homeowners.
What the association does do:
