ratification of budget

Started by DavidA4 • 3 replies • 1438 views

💬 Join us to post & get advice from 50,000 HOA & Condo leaders.

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in

DavidA4 (Washington)
Posts: 2

Posted:

Our property management company and board want to up our hoa dues 15% if fifty one percent of home owners do not show up to vote automatically board has the voting power. We just had a one time radification fee of 500$ in May, for every home owner. Is there any way to try to stall the vote by making motions at the meeting, I would like to have more time to talk or mail more home owners about this, and look into the increase a little bit more. I do not know if all meetings must follow Roberts Rule Of Order. I have looked in our by laws, and the washington condominium act but cannot find how to make motions to table, or prolong the vote. Also our by laws say it does not matter if a quorom is present or not.

RogerB (Colorado)
Posts: 5,067

Posted:

David, request a detailed explanation for the need to increase the assessment. There may be good reasons for it. If not the members can vote not to approve the proposed budget.

PaulM (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 1,347

Posted:

DavidA4: At the meeting prior to the time when the board puts the dues increase to a vote, you can certainly raise your hand to be acknowledged; make a motion to request the reasons for the financial increase, plan beforehand to have another resident second your motion.

Once the motion is on the floor, the Board must honor the request to supply financial backup for the increase--whether its by discussion, or in writing at a later date. If the explanation of the increase is not sufficient, the residents may feel they are not prepared to vote, may want to hold off until a later date, or may just vote no and settle it.

To ensure 51% or more of homeowners come out to the meeting, you may want to go door to door and explain the seriousness of their attendance and the issue at hand.

RobertR1 (South Carolina)
Posts: 5,164

Posted:

David,
Is it really a law is Washington State that if 51% Quorum is not met, the Board or someone else can unilatteraly do what they want? It may be in your documents but don't confuse them with Law. Do you have a state law that addresses HOA's? That is kind of a Law, but it is more senior to your Master Deed and By Laws.
If what you say is a routine that those holding the meeting require, get your Homeowners and change the Documents. I can see someone dreaming that up but I can't see anyone living under it. Sounds to me you may be just scratching the surface.

You can tell your fellow home owners they can makle things easier if they just siogn their pay check over to the Managers. A 51 % Quorum is sort of normal but it should include proxies. But, as I said if you are turning over the regimes to do as they want, change the rules. Pauls advice is solid, do get pushed around but be cool.

🎯 You've read this entire discussion

Join the conversation with 50,000 HOA & Condo Leaders:

✓ Ask follow-up questions
✓ Share your experience
✓ Get expert advice
✓ Access 350,000 discussions

Create Free Account →

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in here