Pocono Record: Problems in Private Communities
The Pocono Record published an article on Sunday July 5th that sums up the reasons why the state legislature just approved HR350 calling for a study of private communities in Pennsylvania.
The article quotes Reps. Scavello and Siptroth from the Poconos, as well CAI’s Executive Director Tony Campisi regarding the need and usefulness of this study which will take place in the coming months. CAI believes this statewide study of private communities is the first of its kind in the nation.
The study will examine the number of association-governed communities in all 67 counties in the Commonwealth and measure the amount of state and municipal taxes paid by owners in these communities as well as the impact of any effort by the Commonwealth to provide access to public funds for infrastructure improvements within these communities. CAI will assist with the study.
It’s about time that the Pocono Record publishes a story regarding the issues occurring in the Private Communities!
We can only hope that this be the little snowball that begins to roll down the mountain, picking up all the fraud, deception; and outright criminal activities that are destroying the “American Dream” of many homeowners.
Comment by David Nieves — July 20, 2009 @ 8:12 am
What will Mario’s bill do to help seniors in Private Community, who are too poor to pay State taxes?
Comment by Anthony Aviles — July 21, 2009 @ 6:33 pm
Rep. Mario Scavello’s bill would permit owners in community associations to deduct up to 75% of your annual association assessments from your state income tax return.
Comment by Tony Campisi — July 23, 2009 @ 9:18 am
Being very specific…what is, or what will CAI do as far as all the real issues affecting homeowners of private communities, such as Boards, attorneys, management companies that feel they are above the law?
Comment by David Nieves — July 23, 2009 @ 12:05 pm
CAI provides numerous educational classes for boards and managers alike on a variety of topics including legal, insurance, maintenance, budgeting and finance, meetings and elections, governance issues, etc. We also provide informational resources via our publications, book store, research foundation and website on these and many other topics. CAI strongly believes in education for both managers as well as board members and homeowners. You might also review our Rights and Responsibilities for Community Associations which was adopted in 2003 by CAI and available on the national website using this link: http://www.caisecure.net/public_policies.pdf#page=26
Comment by Tony Campisi — July 23, 2009 @ 12:41 pm
Mr. Campisi, I’d like to thank you for posting that link for rights and responsibilities for Community associations.
I noticed that there is a lot of:
Cai; urges, encourages, supports, opposes etc. throughout the policies contained in the Public Policies book, but I would like to know what exactly is the role of CAI if and when a particular community is blatantly violating pretty much the entire policy book you offered a link to.
What, if anything, can or will CAI do for violators of the policy book now in question?
Comment by David Nieves — July 23, 2009 @ 1:49 pm
Does the CAI support the establishment of a Commission to oversee, and regulate Private Community Boards?
Comment by Anthony Aviles — July 23, 2009 @ 2:24 pm
Why did Pocono Record make July 5th private communities article “unavailable”?
Comment by Marlene Miller — July 23, 2009 @ 3:51 pm
Tony Campisi:
“Rep. Mario Scavello’s bill would permit owners in community associations to deduct up to 75% of your annual association assessments from your state income tax return.”
I DON’T PAY ANY STATE INCOME TAX! I AM ON A FIX INCOME!
SO WHAT WILL REP. MARIO SCAVELLO BILL DO FOR ME?
Comment by Anthony Aviles — July 23, 2009 @ 4:12 pm
Mr. Campisi:
I am a U.S. Marine who took a pledge to defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I have come home, and found that my wife and children are living in a Private Community. How should I proceed, to guarantee my family their Constitutional rights?
Comment by The Expert — July 23, 2009 @ 4:49 pm
Anthony,
Your question regarding how the “Scavello” Bill would help senior citizens is a good one. CAI favors legislation similar to that passed in NJ that would provide a community association a rebate from the local government (to which your property taxes are paid) for municipal services that the local government does not provide. This would address the issue of community associations, and homeowners who live there, paying twice for services such as road repair, refuse collection etc. How does this help senior citizens? It helps everyone who lives in a community association by eliminating the need to pay for municipal services twice – once in the form of property taxes and once in the form of hiring a contractor to provide the service that is not received from the local government.
In response to the comment regarding CAI’s Public Policies and Rights and Responsibilities document – CAI is a non-profit membership association that community association volunteers, managers and business and service providers join voluntarily. We provide education and advocacy. We are not a state agency nor a regulatory authority. We can suggest, urge, offer best practices, educate and advocate, etc. But we cannot force anyone to take our advice, read our publications or comply with best practices.
Comment by Tony Campisi — July 27, 2009 @ 8:36 am
This piece of misinformation was posted by CAI, on their website.
“Rep. Mario Scavello’s bill would permit owners in community associations to deduct up to 75% of your annual association assessments from your state income tax return.
Comment by Tony Campisi — July 23, 2009 @ 9:18 amâ€
The fact is that Mario’s bill would only permit you to deduct 75% of the amount that the association spends on “road maintenance†from your state income tax return. So that you will be lucky if you are able to deduct 15% of what you actually pay for annual association assessments!
How about asking Mario to include 75% for Security since we don’t get any of that either.
Contact Mario at (570) 839-8314
Comment by Anthony Aviles — July 31, 2009 @ 5:34 pm
Mr. Aviles,
The Bill reads “An amount equal to seventy-five per cent of the amount paid as dues to a homeowners association shall be deductible from taxable income on the annual personal income tax return. The amount paid as dues to a homeowners association allowable as a deduction under this subsection shall not result in taxable income being less then zero.”
There is, as you can see, no reference whatsoever to dues meaning simply road maintenance fees.
It is true however that many legislators would like to see this amended to exclude from a deduction the amount of dues that goes towards amenities such as swimming pools, tennis courts and other recreational items. This is to insure that state taxpayers do not subsidize recreation in private communities.
Comment by Tony Campisi — August 3, 2009 @ 8:11 am