About Special Assessments

Special assessments are intended to address unexpected or emergency repairs or replacements. The roof replacement identified in the Board of Directors’ recently announced special assessment does not meet that standard. It constitutes a planned maintenance expense that should be funded through the Association’s reserve account. Reserve funds are specifically established to cover foreseeable capital repairs and replacements, including roofing, based on anticipated needs identified in periodic reserve studies. Given the age of the buildings and the prior reserve study’s projections for roof replacement, this expense should not have come as an unforeseen or emergency condition justifying a special assessment.

Special Assessment Comments and Questions from Your Neighbors

·      I want to see the Board vote record or meeting minutes showing approval of the special assessment.

·      Again? Didn’t we just take out a large loan?

·      What is the amount needed to repair and replace the roofs? When will the work be done?

·      How was the amount needed calculated?

·      Are there multiple bids for the roofing, or will there be just one bidder as it appears there was for the door painting project? Will we see the bids?

·      Roofs are more important than paint; why wasn’t the roofing done first?

·      I hope the roofers do a better job than the painters.

·      Why is the meeting (special meeting to be conducted on the property management’s premises) not in the Clubhouse like all other meetings? Space has never been an issue.

·      Is the Board trying to limit attendance by holding the meeting off-site and at 6 PM, when many people are busy like working, driving home, fixing dinner, or will be stuck in rush hour traffic trying to get to the meeting? The meeting should be in the clubhouse no earlier than 7:00.

·      The timing for payment due is awful. Christmas gifts, property tax payment, and now this? Is the timing politically motivated – not near Board elections – to avoid backlash against Board incumbents during voting?

·      I don’t know how I’m going to pay for this.

Which roofs will be replaced or repaired? The roofs already replaced list I believe is:

1.    Bldg 1 – replaced 2023

2.    Bldg 2 – replaced 2023

3.    Bldg 3 – replaced 2015

4.    Bldg 4 – replaced 2023

5.    Bldg 5 – replaced 2023

6.    Bldg 6 – replaced 2023

7.    Bldg 16 – replaced 2013

8.    Bldg 19 – replaced 2023

9.    Bldg 20 – replaced 2014

10.  Bldg 23 – replaced 2014

11.  Bldg 24 – replaced 2022

12.  Bldg 25 – replaced 2023

13.  Bldg 26 – replaced 2013

14.  Bldg 27 – replaced 2023

15.  Bldg 29 – replaced 2013

16.  Bldg 30 – replaced 2013

·      My building desperately needs a new roof. There have been falling shingles and other damage reported over the years but the roof was never replaced.

·      Why and how did the Board get us into this situation?

·      Is the Board going to provide us with the budget before the meeting to give us time to review it?

Question or comment? Contact us at info@raleighsquare.com.