In a display of democratic action within the world of homeowners associations, residents of Bavington Court, a Las Vegas condo complex, rallied against a proposed hike in HOA fees that threatened to significantly impact their monthly expenses. The proposed increase, which would have raised monthly fees from $275 to $490, met with vigorous opposition from residents, according to KTNV.
At a board meeting, nearly 200 of the 272 condo owners made their voices heard, countering the rise with a petition that easily surpassed the majority threshold with, 151 signatures—eclipsing the required 137 to overturn the budget under Nevada HOA rules. This grassroots mobilization reflected the residents’ concern over their financial stability, especially among the senior population who are often on a fixed income. “This is the difference between them eating and starving to death because that’s what they use for their grocery money,” Nicole Lagrave, a local hospital trauma nurse whose 85-year-old mother resides in the complex, told KTNV.
While the primary budget was indeed turned down, a local attorney specializing in HOA law brought to light that a special assessment, a $250 monthly fee that could also be proffered in a single $3,000 payment, could not be stopped by the petition. This peculiarity in HOA governance results in a continuation of the special assessment despite the disapproval of the raise. As the board or management company has yet to definitively comment on the outcome, the residents are left with a lot of questions. One resident overheard and recorded a board member stating, “It’ll be what you’re paying now, the $275,” but clarity on the issue remains ambiguous, as noted by KTNV…