Annual CPA Audit Waiving

I live in a small 18 unit association. Because we are so small, our documents state that we can waive an annual audit by a CPA if 60% of the homeowners agree to waive it.
My question is, is it 60% of the homeowners who are attending the annual meeting or is this a vote whereby ALL homeowners must cast a vote?
Thank you.

Our declaration reads: The Board shall cause an annual audit to be made by a Certified Public Accountant as required by state law. The audit may be avoided if sixty percent (60%) of the Owners Vote each year to waive the Audit.
We are located in Washington state.

Barbara, I am betting your condo was created after July 1, 1990 and is subject to the Washington Condo Act. The latter says:

In the case of a condominium consisting of fewer than fifty units, an annual audit is also required but may be waived annually by unit owners other than the declarant of units to which sixty percent of the votes are allocated, excluding the votes allocated to units owned by the declarant.

Correct?

Yes, it was built in 1993.

Then I think the Condo Act resolves all doubt. If the Bylaws/CCRs were interpreted to mean 60% of those present at a meeting, this would conflict with the statute. When such conflicts arise, the statute controls.

Quote this to anyone saying otherwise: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=64.34.372

I know audits are expensive. Yearly seems too much. I would campaign to get the 60% of all owners to agree to waive it. Do a vote by mail or electronic means, if allowed.

I agree. 60% of ALL OWNERS.

You may "know" this. But "we" know nothing of the sort.

The OP quoted the declaration section. I quoted the statute section. I think everyone but you knows what is needed to waive the audit.

You can ask the OP to go to the definitions section of the governing documents and waste more time.

When did you usually take this vote in the past? And when was the last time the community decided to waive the annual audit? If it's the annual meeting, that's when you should do it.

If it's been a few years since you last has an audit, I would hope people would vote for one this time, but if they want to keep waiving it, that's the decision, although it's not very smart. In fact, maybe it's best to amend the documents to require it every two years or something, and then you can skip this voting issue.

As for the percentage, 11 is 60%, and while it would be great if all owners vote, you only need 11 or more to vote one way or another. Check your documents to see what percentage makes quorum for annual and focus on meeting that number.

Unfortunately, our association was self managed up until three years ago and never voted on whether or not to have an audit. Therefore, no professional audit was ever done. The reigning president and treasure at that time reviewed the financials. We now have a management company and are implementing the vote.
Since there are only 18 units, what happens if it is a split vote? I guess that’s where we are unclear. If 10 vote in favor of an audit and 8 vote no, 10 is not 60%. Would the no’s win?
I am new to this association and was appalled at how things were being self managed. I’ve made it my mission to help with getting it on track despite a lot of opposition.

Thank you. Totally makes sense now.