HOA Board Member Stipend

A mandatory $500 stipend wouldn't attract people you really want serving on a board. No CEO or high-grade lawyer will care about $500, for example.

There are lots of HOAs with the problem you mention, including mine - we haven't even had an annual meeting in two years because we can't get enough people to return enough proxies that would give us the minimum number of homeowner participation required to hold it (16 out of 156 units). While this could work as an incentive for some people, this could also place a burden on the operating budget depending on the number of board members.

If people are getting paid, whether through a stipend or credit to their assessments (which might work better, in my opinion), I would expect and demand some sort of performance evaluation regarding attendance and continuing education, and perhaps some other things I can't think of right now.

After 10 years on my board, I concluded long ago board service isn't for everyone, even if some have the skill set. I read an article on the Huffington Post about two years ago saying it's the worst volunteer job in America (it may still be around in the Internet universe if you do a search). I know some people won't do anything for anyone else, even if it's the right thing to do, and I would be concerned the money carrot would result in more inept and ethically challenged people running the show and I don't want them either.

Quote from the Huffington Post article that Sheila mentioned:

"Here's the main reason why being an HOA board member could be the worst volunteer job in America. When I was a soccer coach of eight-year-olds, I had to deal with a player's dad who was insane. He never volunteered. He just showed up every now and then and would berate the team and myself from the sidelines like a crazy person. I got though it for two reasons. First, everyone else knew he was nuts. And second, perhaps most importantly, I could go home and be done with him after the game. Unfortunately for HOA board members, they need to live side-by-side with their antagonists. The soccer dad could only scream from the sidelines. He was not entitled to speak his peace or "take the floor" at meetings on a monthly basis. I didn't have to see him every time I pulled into my driveway. He couldn't approach me while I was walking my dog."

If you were to write your state legislator to encourage such a bill, what amount would you suggest?

Np,

What one needs to realize is that once you are paid to perform a job/task, you are considered a professional.

As a professional, you lose any protections you had as a volunteer (see VOLUNTEER PROTECTION ACT OF 1997).

As a professional, you are also subject to licensing requirements (if any), etc.

I wouldn't serve on a board that paid their board members. Simply too risky.
Note: I also wouldn't live within an Association that did this.

Every HOA is a separate entity. It is also funded by it's members for it's members. Meaning any income given to board members they are paying for it through their dues. Plus the HOA is a non-profit corporation (NOT a charitable one) which is set up to pay for it's own generated expenses. Income isn't necessarily one of those "expenses".

The HOA should be offering liability insurance to protect the members PERSONAL assets. Which is what most HOA's do for their board members. Protect them from personal losses from a HOA lawsuit.

Never ever compensate a member by having them skip paying dues as well for compensation. That is even a worse idea. If the HOA member deserves reimbursent for similar dues amount, they still pay their dues. The HOA then gives them a check.

perspective...... New Hampshire lawmakers make $100 a year and they make laws for a population of 1.3 million.

anyway, it's typically against your documents to compensate anybody serving