In his 10 years at The Meadows, Community Manager Len Smally says he's never seen so many homeowners fail to pay their dues on time.  "It's increased over the last couple of years from basically none, to a few to quite a few this year."  And despite plenty of warnings, between 40 and 50 residents there still need to write checks, or they could face legal action.  "We try to give them plenty of notice.  We mail out letters in advance of the assessment, we mail out the assessment notice, we then mail out late notices, then we eventually turn it over the lawyers."

Attorney David Muller and his firm represent 400 community associations on the Suncoast, and thousands across the state.  "These associations have to pay the lawn bill, they have to pay their managers, they have to pay for certain maintenance costs."  But associations are losing income as they lose homeowners, forcing them to raise assessments.  A recent survey by Muller's firm found that two-thirds of the respondents are now paying higher association fees.  "We're seeing it on all different properties from the affordable housing, all the way to the high end waterfront clientele.  Across the board we are seeing the problem, it's not just segmented to one particular area."

In the Meadows, Smally says the money outstanding is less than 2% of the operating budget, so there is no danger of raising fees yet.  But dealing with such a tight budget, every disappearing dollar affects the bottom line.  "As a not for profit organization, we budget to spend everything that we take in, and it will have an effect if we don't get what we think we're going to get."

Muller says many of these associations will have an open hearing a few weeks before to discuss any possible fee changes with the owners.  But he says you should always make sure you read the by-laws before you join an association to understand all the rules and regulations.

In the Meadows, Smally says the money outstanding is less than 2% of the operating budget, so there is no danger of raising fees yet.  But dealing with such a tight budget, every 

disappearing dollar affects the bottom line.  "As a not for profit organization, we budget to spend everything that we take in, and it will have an effect if we don't get what we think we're going to get." Muller says many of these associations will have an open hearing a few weeks before to discuss any possible fee changes with the owners.  But he says you should always make sure you read the by-laws before you join an association to understand all the rules and regulations.