How much should we contribute?
According to National Reserve Study Standards, there are four Funding Principles to balance in developing your Reserve Funding Plan. Our first objective is to design a plan that provides you with sufficient cash to perform your Reserve projects on time. Second, a stable contribution is desirable because it keeps these naturally irregular expenses from unsettling the budget.
Reserve contributions that are evenly distributed over current and future owners enable each owner to pay their fair share of the association's Reserve expenses over the years. And finally, we develop a plan that is fiscally responsible and safe for Boardmembers to recommend to their association. Remember, it is the Board's job to provide for the ongoing care of the common areas. Boardmembers invite liability exposure when Reserve contributions are inadequate to offset ongoing common area deterioration.
What is our Recommended Funding Goal?
Maintaining the Reserve Fund at a level equal to the value of deterioration is called "Full Funding" (100% Funded). As each asset ages and becomes "used up," the Reserve Fund grows proportionally. This is simple, responsible, and our recommendation. Evidence shows that associations in the 70 - 130% range enjoy a low risk of special assessments or deferred maintenance.
Allowing the Reserves to fall close to zero, but not below zero, is called Baseline Funding. Doing so allows the Reserve Fund to drop into the 0 - 30% range, where there is a high risk of special assessments & deferred maintenance. Since Baseline Funding still provides for the timely execution of all Reserve projects, and only the "margin of safety" is different, Baseline Funding contributions average only 10% - 15% less than Full Funding contributions. Threshold Funding is the title of all other Cash or Percent Funded objectives between Baseline Funding and Full Funding.
Association Reserves, #6510-0
22
7/29/2022
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