dues and fees

Our HOA of sf homes has really low dues of $120 per year. We have no reserves for future road improvements. Roads are basically our only item we should be budgeting for. Our CCR's state any increase in dues must be approved by a 60% majority of the membership. In certain things I have read here, I was wondering if we could tack on a "fee" for future road repairs to the dues so we could bypass that 60% approval? The membership has flatly refused to fund a reserve study but a committee has met and agreed that a small increase of $10 per year for the next 5 years would be in the best interest of the HOA. Since this money will be kept separate, could we refer to it as a "fee" rather than dues? Can the Board just implement this without the 60% approval?

I certainly hear you loud and clear. I tried bringing the concept of "reserve study" to the membership last year and it was flatly turned down. No one wants to pay more now, in spite of our low annual dues, even understanding that future road repairs will cost considerably more than $100K. That equates to about $10K per lot in about 20 years. If I can't get them to realize this now, I am ready to just give up!

I keep reading hear and there about budgets going "over" and having to force an increase in dues. How can that happen? If our gates broke, they would go in an open position till we had the money because no one cares. What can I do?

And there are no other big ticket items anyone cares enough about to save for. We have people who would prefer we planted plastic plants at the entrance rather than spend the money on real plants. Many of the owners are late middle aged to seniors and feel they won't be around here in 15 years anyway so not their problem. I will say we have a nice "middle class" neighborhood and nothing is really unkept at this time. I just want to put road money aside for the future. Our $120 per lot per year covers things adequately.