$17,000 in Unscheduled Paver Repairs and Now Our Quarterly Dues Are $300
Homeowners deserve transparency, accountability, and responsible financial management from their HOA. Unfortunately, that is not what we are experiencing.
Recently, the HOA approved an additional $17,000 in unscheduled repairs to the esplanade pavers after they were damaged. Instead of this cost being properly anticipated, planned for, or addressed through warranties, insurance, or contractor accountability, the outcome was a sharp increase in homeowner costs.
As a result, our quarterly dues have now been raised to $300.
This Decision Came From HOA Leadership
According to board actions and discussions, this dues increase was proposed and pushed by Krista, who has served as HOA president for the past 11 years.
This is not an isolated event. Over time, dues have continued to rise, often following unplanned expenses and reactive decisions, rather than proactive budgeting and long-term planning.
Let’s Be Clear: This Is Not a Homeowner Failure
The damage to the esplanade pavers was not caused by homeowners.
Homeowners did not:
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Choose the materials
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Approve the installation process
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Oversee inspections
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Manage vendors
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Handle maintenance schedules
Those responsibilities belong to the HOA leadership.
When damage occurs due to lack of oversight, poor planning, or preventable issues, homeowners should not automatically be expected to cover the cost.
Unscheduled Repairs Signal a Bigger Issue
Unscheduled repairs usually indicate deeper problems, such as:
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Inadequate reserve planning
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Poor vendor or contractor oversight
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Failure to enforce warranties or contracts
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Lack of preventive maintenance
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No long-term capital improvement strategy
If $17,000 can appear unexpectedly today, there is nothing preventing even larger surprise expenses tomorrow.
Why Are Homeowners Paying for HOA Decisions?
Raising dues should be a last resort, not the first solution.
Before increasing quarterly dues to $300, homeowners deserve clear answers:
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Why were these repairs not anticipated?
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Was the damage preventable?
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Were warranty claims or insurance options explored?
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Who approved the original work, and was it inspected properly?
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Why does the financial burden consistently fall on homeowners?
Without transparency, this feels less like responsible governance and more like passing the consequences of poor management onto residents.
A Pattern of Rising Dues Without Accountability
After 11 years under the same leadership, homeowners have a right to ask hard questions.
Repeated dues increases following unplanned expenses suggest a pattern, not a coincidence. Continuing to raise dues without addressing the root causes only guarantees that homeowners will keep paying more for the same problems.
We Deserve Better
Homeowners are not asking for perfection. We are asking for:
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Responsible budgeting
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Long-term financial planning
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Transparency in decision-making
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Accountability when mistakes happen
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Leadership that protects homeowners, not one that repeatedly reaches into their wallets
Ignoring these concerns ensures this cycle continues.
Change does not happen by staying silent. It happens when homeowners stay informed, participate, and demand accountability.
