So I took over as President of our 16-house HOA last April. We had about 8 people who hadn't paid their dues for the year, and of those, 3 who hadn't paid for the year before. Our dues are, wait for it 'cause this is just a HORRENDOUS amount of money: $180 a year.
Okay, so I'm starting out short on the cash needed to do things- we have two regular bills: water, electricity for the street lamp. The lady who appointed me Prez (Secretary of the Board and only member at the time) said, "I don't know why, but I haven't seen a bill for insurance on the park." Uh yeah, there's a cancellation letter in the paperwork- we were without liability insurance for 1.5yrs. Could've lost my house if someone sued ... $945 for insurance. Then the county sends a letter that we need to have our storm drains cleaned- $950 for that. We also have a PO Box, have to pay for stamps and envelopes, etc.
Anyway, the point is that I paid more $$ out last year than we took in, and we don't have all that much in savings. I held a meeting at the end of last year, and only 3 people showed up. One was one of my next-door neighbors (who NEVER shows up)- and he's b****ing at me, "Why isn't the park getting cleaned, where are my dues going?" Bla bla bla. I say to him, "There's no money to get the park cleaned. I'm trying to collect from all of the delinquent owners." Did he expect me to pay out of my own pocket??
At the beginning of the year, I sent out a great newsletter (which I created and would have charged $300 for if I had been making for a client), and the dues statements. As of today, 4 people have paid. My so-called Secretary hasn't paid, nor the jerk from next door. We have a couple of owners who are now three years behind. My other neighbor emailed to say "We can't pay for this year or last and I'm not taking food out of my family's mouth," and "I'm not taking down my not-approved satellite dish." 'Cause taking away TV from your kids is just like taking away food. AND we got another letter from the county that we have to put some kind of backflow valve on our water system and who knows how much that is going to cost.
I'm SO getting rid of this crap. I'm hiring a management company, and I don't care if it triples our dues. Then all of these jerks who think that they don't have to help pay for community bills can try to ignore a lien on their homes like they've been ignoring me.
I'm sorry this has been such a negative post (and long!), but I'm dealing with really severe depression and my new meds are making me hyper-emotional right now, and I'm fighting off thoughts of suicide, and I just don't get why people are so horrible and irresponsible! I mean, it's $180 at the beginning of the year and then I could have taken care of the rest ...
Thank you so very much for listening. You all are wonderful, brilliant people!
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~*Amber*~
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