Here is a thought, maybe the association dues are for more than just snow removal. I pay mine on time because thats what your supposed to do, kinda like all your other bills. I'm not sure but I believe the dues are to pay for maintenance in general. Including but certainly not limited to grass cutting of common areas, mulching of landscape, cleaning up dog crap from common areas, cleaning graffitti from brand new stonefield entrance signs, mulching play areas, replanting trees that have been destroyed by kids in the neighborhood, replacing or repairing playground equipment damaged by children that have no business loitering around it, cleaning of the runoff ponds do to the grass clippings that people are too lazy to clean up and let sit on the sidewalk until it rains, Cleaning up the trash people drive by that blew from their can. The list goes on and on. Although I do see your complaint about paying it, $200 is alot of money compared to the measly $365,000 I payed for my house. Maybe if everyone payed a little bit more attention to where their trash is blowing, where their teens are hanging out and what they are doing while they're there, where their dog is crapping or maybe just say "hey, I payed alot of money for a nice house in a nice neighborhood, maybe I should help keep it that way.", maybe this will stay a nice neighborhood. If the neighborhood turns to crap so does your property value. I'd be embarassed if people I lived around knew I didnt help do my part by paying something as simple as a $200 maintenance fee.
Buts thats just my opinion.
Mike
