This process describes how households decide what their contribution to the cohousing group's costs will be.
It does not apply to condo fees, but is used for the cohousing group monthly fees. It can also be used for other expenses if appropriate.
Step 1
The group will come to consensus on a cohousing budget.
Step 2
The trustees will compute the average contribution needed from owner occupied households to cover the agreed budget.
For example: An average bid of $70 per household will fully fund this year's budget.
Step 3
Each household decides on their monthly pledge level to the cohousing budget, with the minimum allowed pledge being 5% of the average bid required to fully fund the budget.
In this decision, households can be guided by how much they use community resources, and approximating how their income compares to other households. They can also consider whether they expect to make more or less money in the coming year. Further, they can freely decide to contribute as much as they feel comfortable with, in support of the less wealthy members of the community. The households indicate to the budget team of the trustees how much they will contribute.
Step 4
The trustees determine whether total pledges fully fund the budget.
If yes, the trustees pass on the good news, and households are given the new monthly numbers. Pledge totals above that needed to fully fund the .budget will be brought to the community to decided on which, if any, additional items should be moved into the budget
If no, the trustees pass on the bad news. Households are informed of the gap and asked to reconsider pledge levels. (Step 3 is repeated.) If this fails, we move on to step 5
Step 5
The trustees may regroup and propose for consensus a reduced budget to match the maximum contribution offers.