FINANCE Fair Warning Tell Owners Early About a Coming Fee Increase F or associations with a calendar year budget, it will be time this fall to start the budget development process for the upcoming fiscal year. Ah yes, budget time ... a most exciting time of the year for the board. This annual work of art requires the board to deftly sort out the wants and needs of competing groups (the board, committees, and unit owners) in drafting a budget that will permit the association to meet the operational and reserve needs of an ever-aging association but doing so at a fee structure that fits satisfactorily into the economic profile of every unit owner. 30 Condo Media * September 2014