HOA in serious debt

I hope I can get some advice from homeowners that have been through this. My HOA is a small community of 110 townhouses. We are not a rich community, just middle class working people. We have a lot of renters now as well.

Our fiscal year is coming to a close, and some of us have found out that our HOA is $17,000 in debt for trash removal. When renters move out, they put stuff outside, and some homewoners are doing the same. There are no dumping signs, but they still do it. If caught they are fined, but many don't bother to pay and our HOA doesn't have the money to take them to court. Our city had all communities remove trash bins. When ours came down what was left were concret slabs. It was recommended to the Board to remove them, but they didn't and as a result bulk trash is put there. Our Board has not paid $4000 for snow removal. We have no money to spend, not even to rent the school for a meeting at $35 an hour, and our property management company and lawn service has not been paid. I blame this on mismanagement by our board of directors. Their lack of communication with members is deafening. When I asked about all this, I was told it was the property management company's fault, and that there was nothing they could do but have the bulk removed even through we were getting further into debt...without paying City fines. It's a mess.

After several emails went out to them about this, they've called a special assessment meeting for the end of June. I'm not sure how the notices will read, if they will explain why, and let homeowners know how bad things are.Most homeowners I've spoken to are worried this debt will be laid on them to pay off. No doubt it will be in one billing or our HOA dues will increase. Comes to about $160 each just for the $17,000. Some folks around here live paycheck to paycheck, and even dues are often a crunch to pay.

Any advice on this?

What can we do about a Board that has mismanaged our association? Vote them out, sure. We are to have elections, but last year they were the only ones that ran. I would run but I am disabled and my husband is recovering from a stroke. I'm his full time caregiver.

Is there a cheaper way to have bulk trash removed. This bill in ridiculous!

Part of the problem is the Association is attempting to fine the renters.
Identify who the trash belongs to and assess the owner of the unit the cost of the removal.

The Association isn't that far in debt overnight.
You need to find out the delinquency rate and what is being done about it.
Why isn't the Board foreclosing on owners that haven't paid (do it once and the others will pay).

The buck stops with the board, not the management company.
The MC works for the Board, not the other way around.

Other then homeowner apathy resulting in nobody wanting to do the work, I don't understand why the Association isn't self managed. My Association is 130 lots and we have been self managed for the past 30 years. Becoming self managed can save the members a fair amount of money. However, they have to be willing to put in the work.

Received a letter today announcing a meeting. The Agenda is to 'Discuss a Special Assessment for Property'. I hope the homeowners in my HOA understand what this means. There was no explanation. I am assuming it means a raise in the dues. This is going to hurt a lot of people financially.

Thank you for clearing that up.

The incurred debt is due to mismanagement over the last several years. Is there a way to hold these Board Members accountable.
Members want to vote them out, which is what we plan to do, as long as others step up to replace them. We have concerned homeowners, and then we have complacent ones.

To clarify, that's 130 lot townhome development.

With this Board, we haven't seen a yearly budget sent out in five years. I've asked for it numerous times, including copies of the finances which homeowners are entitled to. When all this got out about the serious debt, I again asked to see the budget and finances. No response.
They sent a notice out we got yesterday calling for a meeting to discuss the issue, so maybe they will have the reports and budget. I don't think anyone has embezzled money, just poor management, and letting the trash pick up cost go on and on. They should have done something asap when they saw we were running out of money. We can't even get the Board to agree to have our HOA meeting at the school across from us for $35 an hour. They say they don't have the money. Instead we are meeting at the property manager's office. I have no idea if all 130 homeowners show up, how we will fit in there.
A couple homeowners are getting the school and paying for it to have a separate meeting to discuss how we are going to deal with this Board and they debt they've allowed to happen. Of course the Board is blaming the property manager. Nope, it is their responsibility. I was told what else could they do but have the trash removed or face fines from the City. I've come up with a few suggestions and I hope they are willing to listen. The president is very rude and volatile and will tell people they cannot speak. People walked out on one of her meetings.

George,

Excuse me, but my wife served on the Board for five years until she was diagnosed with cancer. She has been in treatment since. I have had two strokes and am unable to serve due to complications. We are staying involved as best we can, communicating with the Board and our fellow neighbors who also are doing the same. Yes, there are some complacent homeowners, but there are many of us that have lived here a long time and care.

It isn't that we allowed this to happen. The current Board kept it under wraps and did not communicate with the homeowners. It wasn't until a few weeks ago the debt issue was leaked. We asked several times to see the budget and the finances, with no reply. We've been told throughout the last fiscal year that everything was fine financially. No problems. There was no appearance of issues either. Our common grounds were maintained. Bulk trash removed.

There has been a lot of action on homeowners part on my street. We work hard together beautifying our common areas, mowing when the grass is too high, helping each other out, and more. The problem is not US the problem is the current Board for their mismanagement and lack of communication.

We are the HOA and are preparing a meeting to take action, and to discuss the issues and how to deal with this negligent board. They have called a meeting with a simple letter saying time, date, and location (which cannot fit everyone) for a discussion of a Special Assessment of Property.

So please do not accuse us of 'finger pointing' and no one having an 'interest in volunteering for the Board'. You are assuming and what you have said is not true. We have elections coming up this July and there are those who want to run. We'll vote the old Board out for their negligence.