Conversation

HOA meeting. Had to raise dues.

This place was originally intended as a retirement community for teachers. We still have some original owners. Every board over the years has tried to keep dues low. This has failed to impress the cost of living, halted the retirement and death of contractors charging below-market rates, or avoided tariffs.

Faced with paying for some things early, some unexpected expense (the insurer decided we needed to replace swaths of the sidewalk now, please), and the new mantra of "it's gonna cost you more 'cause of tariffs," our disappearing savings said we had no choice but to opt for a fairly hefty $50/month increase.

We probably should have opted for $60/month, but chose $50 and to see what maintenance can be moved forward. Roofs, probably. The shingles are guaranteed for longer than we're cycling.

Nobody likes spending money because some politician decided to charge us, and then pretend someone else pays. Please vote better. It won't solve all of our problems, but neither will expenses invented by fools.