Our 500 unit co-op is forty years old. We have capital improvements every year in accordance with the AICPA required engineering study and capital improvement plan. Our plan says that we need to spend about $15,000,000 over the next fifteen years, in current dollars.

It does not mean we schedule the capital improvement precisely in the year estimated by the engineering study as many year to year maintenance events can prolong the life span of a capital feature.

However, for a number of years we have had a yearly assessment that garners about $1,000 per unit (yes, apportioned by the number of shares), and thus we have an annual capital improvement income stream of $500,000.

In addition our original mortgage was retired without ever refinancing or expanding the principle. In turn, rather than lower the monthly maintenance costs by the like amount, we kept this item in the income stream but change it to capital income and now we use this income for capital improvements. In total, we now accumulate $900,000 a year for capital improvements.

The rationale is that as the building ages, more of the original infrastructure and even some of the newer more recent items need replacement. Thus, we are replacing windows over a six year program without borrowing, we are replacing our central AC (used buy all apartments) chiller devices, we upgraded our lobby, we completely overhauled our elevator systems and cabs, we built a new mailroom, put off street parking decks were completely refurbished, and soon we will replace all wallpaper and carpeting in the hallways of all floors.

The point is that assessments should be a recurring yearly income stream and now sprung on residents as ”specials”. By having assessments as regular yearly event, residents can plan budgets accordingly (in our case) for years to come.