Bob is not all that should be dismissed. I think  lot of OPA's problem is that they do not have professional management in place and never have IMO. I have lived in a number of HOA communities over the last 20 years. ALL of them other than OPA had a professional management organization. By that I mean the equivalent of the GM worked for a larger corporation that managed a number of communities either locally or across the country. This creates a shared services environment for everything from accounting to professional negotiating and contracting with vendors etc. These people are professionals, not taught through on the job training, or lack of it.

In this situation the HOA does not have any direct employees. They contract with an organization to run the operations. They in turn hire a "GM" and on site employees as needed.  Likewise shared services are provided as needed.

I no longer live in OPA land. I now live in Del Webb's Sun City in Huntley, IL - yes I miss the beach. This is a community of 5,500+ homes. Our HOA is managed as described above. Since this is a 55+ community many of the part time employees are members of the community.We currently pay an assessment of $402 / quarter ($1,608 annually) In the 3 years I have been here it has gone up AND down less than $15 / year. Before you get excited about that cost here is what we have. The use of all these items are at NO ADDITIONAL charge: 2 fully equipped fitness centers,3 pools (2 outdoor, 1 indoor), tennis courts, Bocci Ball Courts, Baseball field with score board, beautiful landscaping in common areas throughout the community. The main lodge / community center is 90,000 sq. ft. and contains association offices, lots of meeting and activity rooms, wellness center run by Centegra, ballroom, restaurant by a small local chain that does not have to have losses made up by the HOA. We have a lot of clubs that one can join for nominal fees ($5-$25 / year) that gets you access to additional facilities like a fully equipped woodshop, ceramics room with Kilns, art studio, computer club with lab. The HOA fees also cover an adequate Reserve account based on a professional reserve study.

Dave