I just got a letter from my condo association saying the board of directors are proposing a 107 percent increase in the condo fee for our community. I don tknow what to do because I can barely afford to live on the money I bring in now, and its been much tougher since the recession.

Is there anything our residents can do to protest and stop this hike?

Read your by-laws. It will give you any recourse you have in overturning the board's decision. Why is the board proposing this increase? Is it possible they haven't raised fees in so long that they don't have the money to maintain the complex.

According to the proposed budget the maintenance fees are increasing by double. They have also added some unexplained repair fees that would normally be under maintenance fees. These are not apartment like condos, they are townhouse like condos. Two years agao they were suppose to address landscape and roof issues that to date have not been addressed. I realize the economy as change, but this stilll does not validate such a large increase. I have read the state condominium act which states the counscilof unit owners (meaning the unit owners) have to vote on any new budget. I have yet to see where this pwer is delegated to board of directors.

Again, what does your By-laws state. I don't know what the state act says whether it's a guideline or a mandate. Its also possible that your complex is grandfathered in.

Doesn't matter whether its an apartment building or townhouses.

But if the state law mandates a vote on the budget by all unit owners then they have to put it to a vote.

If you don't like or understand the budget then get enough unit owners to call for a hearing.

The Bylaws may not be the only place to look. Review the CC&R's of the Association. Many times the budgets are approved at annual member & board meetings. If that was the case as long as the meeting had a quorum there is nothing that can be done.