what are the laws for voting on increase in association fees

LindaW7 - The best place to generate revenue to cover operating costs is from an increase in monthly, quarterly, or annual association fees. Rather than special assessments to fund the amount needed. Your board may or may not be subject to restrictions on the amount it can increase. Restrictions should be outlined in your governing documents, or maybe even state law. But look to your docs. first, and let us know what you find.

Linda,
As Gerald has said, you will need to look into your Bylaws or Articles of Incorp to see what your procedure is for increasing your fees. If you do not have it in your own Docs, the California's Davis/Sterting Act has it in there. Your association may allow your Board of Directors to do the raise in dues without a membership vote but it also may require the membership to vote for the increase.. That is why you need to read the requirements. I would like to assume that your P.M knows what she is saying and the increase is done without a vote.

GeraldT4,
Yes, it all depends on whats in the governing documents. We requre an approval of the board and ratification by the homeowners (that's an interesting one; too lengthly go to into here). We may not agree on everything, but as for having wacky things in documents, I'm with you on that one.

Well of course you should know how much your documents allows you to increase your annual assessments without approval of the members, but more importantly you should know if your state has a limitation too which might supercede your documents.

I believe we're getting away from the original question here. I don't think it's how much boards can raise fees, or make special assesments, or whatever.

I think the original problem was that LindaW7's board has made the claim that the property manager has the authority to raise association fees without homeowner approval, or something to that effect. LindaW7, is that what you are asking?

My response was that in my experience, and in everything I have read, I've never heard that claim before. It may be true, but it strikes me as unusual.
I'm suspicious that the property manager has any such authority.

Borrowing on advice I've received from others, whenever someone makes a claim that you don't believe to be true, ask them to show it to you in writing (ie. in the bylaws, Declaration or CCRs, statutes, whatever). If the claim is not true, they won't be able to show it to you.

I don't know what the correct procedure is in LindaW7's case is; I only what the requirement is for my HOA. Anything is possible. Make them show you and then you will know.

Bruce,
My error. I thought that Linda was from Cal.

DonnaS,
Yes, it's easy to forget where people are from. I have to keep checking and rechecking too.

Hmmm. Reasonable interpretation. This does change the entire meaning of the sentence. I took it to mean THEY referred to "property management".

Using your interpretation, it sounds like the property manager is advising the board that they (the board) can raise fees without homeowner approval. That is entirely reasonable and believable. We can (sort of) do that too.