We’ve established the purpose of a community association budget. We’ve learned the benefits of applying sound methodology  Now we are ready to dive into the nitty gritty.

Budget formats can vary significantly. Their contents depend on the complexity of the property. A 300-unit condominium association with a central HVAC plant and staff will have a more intense budget than a 30-home HOA. But the best budgets tend to have a few things in common, regardless of their scope and complexity.

How Do We Get There from Here? Essential Budget Components

There are two basic components that can help support the budgeting disciplines outlined in the first two parts of this series.

First, a comparative spreadsheet helps to see patterns and context. At a minimum, it includes columns for:
• next year’s proposed budget
• current year’s adopted budget
• projected current year-end results
• last year’s audit results

To gain longer range perspective, prior year budget and audit figures can be added. For smaller communities that may not engage an independent auditor each year, unaudited figures are better than nothing. The goal is to see the reality of past performance in order to help plan for the future. To provide context for the current year’s projected column, a year-to-date column may be helpful.

The next component requires the most work. It is also essential to understanding what’s behind the cold, hard numbers in the budget. A detailed narrative, in which each line item and the assumptions behind them are expressed in detail, can make a huge difference. The process of creating, reviewing and editing the narrative is where each line item is challenged. Exactly what is included in “miscellaneous administrative” or “landscaping non-contract?” How was the total annual figure calculated? Memorialize it. If “meeting expense” includes recording secretarial services at $175 per meeting times 12 meetings, plus an allowance for light refreshments at the annual meeting of $300 and room rental for the annual meeting at $250, put it in writing. Include contract details. If the terms of a two-year janitorial service contract include a $2,000 per month fee with an escalation of 1.5% at the May anniversary, show the math: ($2,000/mo. x 4 mos.) + ($2,000/mo. x 8 mos. x 1.015 increase) = $24,240. It’s kind of like 3rd grade arithmetic – show your work!

Other Useful Components

Line items that require significant funding can be carefully budgeted and communicated by supplemental worksheets. A high rise with large utility usage can benefit from the compilation of utility logs. Several years of utility use can provide valuable data to make the 12-month spread more accurate, track energy conservation efforts, and mitigate some of the guesswork involved in developing the budget. If the association is in a locality where it can buy natural gas and electricity on the futures market in bulk, the gross rate can be very accurately estimated. (Accurate usage) x (accurate rate) + contingency for unusually hot or cold weather will result in a nice, tight budget.

Associations with large staff may benefit from a detailed personnel worksheet to capture the potential cost of coverage for full-timers while on leave, allowance for pay increases, overtime, and state and federal unemployment tax costs. The methodology used by health insurers in determining premiums can also create budgeting headaches. A detailed worksheet can help in estimating costs.

A statement of capital expense cash flow and reserve contributions can help demystify the calculation for replacement reserve contributions. We will cover this in greater detail in Part 4 of this series.

Finally, some people are visual learners. If charts and graphs help community members to grasp the data in the budget, use them.

It’s Good for You…and Everybody Else

There are many benefits to fully utilizing these components. The discipline to analyze and prioritize wants, needs, and realities with the financial plan is maintained. There will be a clear understanding of the plan for the upcoming year. And the final document helps to ensure continuity from year to year in the event of volunteer or management turnover. These two components, if well-crafted, show the results of the combined trend and zero-based approach and give community members confidence in the plan, their leadership, and their management. The transparency built into the discipline builds trust. And trust is everything. 

Next…

In the next segment, we will offer tips for communities facing the challenge of change. There are additional components that can be included in the budget package. Additionally, leaders and managers of communities facing challenges can be filled with anxiety. We will share communication strategies to help.