5 Percenter

This year there is another 5% increase in HOA fees. Maybe we should call the board 5 Percenters, but they don't seem to have equality on the agenda. Some could argue that our current board's only policy that is even enforced, is the constant 5% hike. There are two ways to go about managing during times of economic downturn. One is to cutback and wait out the storm; the other is to keep spending more, so as to maintain the current lifestyle. Our HOA fees include; gas, water, waste, and fees for services rendered. There are some things that we need to maintain our current lifestyle; like utilities. Others we don't; like lawyers & accountants.
Since the main utility (natural gas) has actually gone down this year,
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/ng/hist/n3010us3a.htm
it makes sense that our "employees" are seeing the extra cash flow. So instead of looking for ways to save, or finding alternate sources of revenue, they just raise HOA fees.
How long would you last at your job, if every year you asked for a 5% increase without performing or without producing? The difference here is (unlike your boss) we don't have the option to say, "no!" Why should our employees have to excel in their performance to get their pay raise ( when the rest of us are seeing pay decreases); when raisng HOA fees is so much easier? It is a guaranteed yearly pay raise, and they don't even have to do anything. What a life that would be!
There has been a lot of worries about the continual raise of the HOA fees each year. The average home owner is paying over $200.00 a month, and with the new 5% increase, it will now be an average of $210.00 a month for each unit. With the 256 units here at Aix La Chapelle, this will create a monthly revenue of over $53,760.00 ! This is raising a lot of questions here at Aix La Chapelle like; "where is all the money going?" and "how come we don't see many changes if the Board is receiving that much a month?" and most important "do we really need another 5% increase!?" This has left many feeling discouraged and hopeless. Some feel they are destined to keep dishing out more money until they are BROKE, and there is nothing they can do. In these times of economic uncertainty, there are literally those who may be forced to sell their house if this trend continues.
We are here to tell you;
You DO have a choice!
You DO have a say!
And you are NOT just a slave!
We are all struggling and you do not have to suffer so others can continue to maintain their lifestyle when EVERYONE is running low on cash.