A Pierce County homeowners’ association proposed a one-time fee of more than $8,000 for its residents in addition to dues that could force some to move out if approved.
Members of the Tapps Island Association in Lake Tapps can vote to approve the proposal; however, in an ordinance with state law and HOA guidelines, the measure will be automatically passed unless a majority of members reject it. The fee was proposed at a Tapps Island Board meeting this fall.
“My husband went to the meeting and he came home and said, ‘We need to pack up and leave,’” Renate Lyman, who has lived on the island for 46 years, said.
Lyman said she always thought she’d spend her future on the island, but now she isn’t sure.
“My husband said after that meeting, a lot of people said it’s time to get out,” she said.
The board has proposed a one-time special assessment fee per lot of $8,035 if homeowners pay before March 1. There are payment plans for residents who cannot afford the fee all at once, but costs increase. For residents seeking more time to pay the fee, the fee goes up to $9,898.