My point is that the cost of services (like electric and water) increase, the cost of fuel increases, the cost of products and parts increases, then that's more money out of pocket for the HOA...money has to come from somewhere. And the more homes that foreclose that's less money coming in so it has to be balanced out somewhere. You cannot have the cost of everything else go up and more homes foreclosed on or less folks paying their HOA dues and your rates go down, mathmatically it just isn't possible.
I'm not saying it as an excuse or saying it as let's be like everyone else, I'm saying the more money charged for utilities, products, services, etc the more the HOA has to pay out, the more money that is needed.
...so, does this include the unnecessary monthly payments for services not rendered? Um, if the board has a personal financial stake in caring if the dues increase, then why are there still fees being paid for "necessary evils" that come along with running a HOA, such as: $500 a month for tot lots cleaned up that is rarely taken care of... $35 for each dang sprinkler head when regular ones (yes, the big ones) cost $7 at the most and $12 for the water savers that spray up to 75 ft..... and the $ ??? each month for landscaping costs that seem to cost us more for reseeding and such when they scalp the areas here and there.... hmmm, sounds like someone's being hurt by the economy and needs to make up for it somehow... wow, you are way off to really believe that this is about SRP when their rates increase every year and have in the past 8 years I have lived here! Energy and other utility companies tend to increase thier rates yearly as general practice- we are lucky that the water and sewer here have not shown this too much. This is about making educated adjustments to the overspending that is happening in our current HOA/ Oasis situation. Funny how I cuss and storm out of a meeting and suddenly stop getting unwarranted warnings for cars parked on my neighbors side of the street. Guess they figured I was just another homeowner they didn't need to contend wiht after that. Vote, no, participate, no, give a &%#* anymore, no... why should I when this is a never-ending battle of the meek of minds? Good luck to you, maam, with your "strictly owned American women b.s."