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What are the Four Funding Principles?

The Funding Plan is the recommended action plan by which the association provides income to the Reserve Fund to offset anticipated Reserve expenses. Reserve contributions are recommended for the initial year within the context of a 20- or 30-yr plan, the Funding Plan is created based on four distinct principles. Sometimes these four principles all point to one solution, sometimes they have to be balanced against each other in the best interests of the association and its members:

Special Assessments vs Ongoing Reserve Contributions

Why not just special assess for Reserve expenses when the expenses occur? It fundamentally boils down to fairness and responsible corporate planning. By nature, Reserve expenses occur unevenly through the years: some years will have minimal Reserve expenses, some years will be especially hit hard.

Loans: Paying $320,071 to get $250,000!

While more financial institutions are offering loans to community associations, this option is not available to all associations. To quality for a loan, an association must demonstrate enough fiscal health (positive assessment revenue stream) to demonstrate to the lender

Funding Your Reserves – Making Strategic Choices

Popular management consultant Peter Drucker famously stated “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” With that in mind, what future do you want for your association? Will there be sufficient cash to maintain “curb appeal” and maximize owner enjoyment,

IRS Form 1120-H: Does an Association Pay Taxes on Reserve Interest?

So on what income does an association pay tax? This can get very complicated, but at the very least, the association generally needs to pay tax on its interest earnings. That includes ALL bank and investment interest, including interest earned on reserve accounts.

Why Reserve for Expenses 30 Years Away?

Today a well-intentioned Boardmember called, asking why he should tell his homeowners that the expensive roof they installed two years ago,