The Prestonwood Forest Maintenance Association levies annual fees in order to maintain common community properties and to provide certain amenities to the subdivision such as swimming pools, tennis courts, the clubhouse, trash removal, pest control, etc. These fees are set by the Board of Directors each November when the United States Bureau of Labor publishes its latest 12-month statistic on the percentage change in the national cost-price index (CPI.) In accordance with our Declaration of Restrictions, the annual fee may not be raised by more than the percentage increase in that latest CPI percentage change.
When the maintenance fee is set for the following year, the management company will mail a statement to each homeowner of record listing the fees due, along with any other costs that may have been incurred since the previous billing. This mailing will occur early in the month of December. The maintenance fee is due on January 1 at the management company’s office. Accounts not paid in full by January 31 will incur additional fees and costs. These fees and costs may include, without limitation, costs of additional notices, certified postage and handling, and/or legal fees and costs.
Collection Policy
It is the goal of the association to collect all fees, costs and charges due and owing each year from each owner. These procedures are applied uniformly to all owners. Any owner owing any amount of money after January 31 is considered to be delinquent in the payment of amounts due.
Collection Timeline
| Mid-November . . . . . . . . . |
The Board of Directors sets the maintenance fee amount. |
| Early December . . . . . . . |
Maintenance fee statements are mailed to homeowners of record. |
| January 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Maintenance fees are due. |
| January 31 . . . . . . . . . . . |
Maintenance fees become delinquent; interest begins accruing. |
| February 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Reminder notices are mailed to delinquent homeowners and a penalty fee is charged to delinquent accounts. |
| March 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Certified demand letters are mailed to delinquent homeowners with an inserted notice of suspension of waste collection services. Demand letter charges are added to the accounts. |
| April 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Waste collection services are terminated for Homeowners owing any maintenance fee amount. |
| April Board Meeting . . . . . |
The Board reviews the list of delinquent accounts, and, at its direction, those accounts owing at least one full year of maintenance fees are forwarded to the Association's attorney for possible legal action. At this point, the association will allow payment agreements for a maximum of three months only unless requested by the delinquent homeowner and approved by the Board of Directors. Homeowners delinquent on payment agreements begun after the April Board meeting are not eligible for waste collection services until all fees have been paid. |
Methods of Payment
In addition to payment by check, homeowners may use one of several additional payment options:
Partial Payments: You can make partial payments, beginning with receipt of your bill, at no additional charge, provided your account is paid in full no later than January 31. There are no penalties for choosing this option. Contact High Sierra Management for specific instructions.
Installment Agreements: If begun after January 1, there is a $25.00 processing fee payable to the management company for the agreement document. Your payments will be due in January, February and March. This option frees the homeowner from the late penalties imposed by the Association in February, March and April, and/or prevents having the account sent to the attorney for collection. The homeowner is required to send the $25.00 processing fee and the first payment before receiving the agreement document. Note: If the homeowner does not request an installment payment agreement until after February, March and/or April penalties have been imposed, an installment agreement may still be obtained; however, the additional penalties will remain on the account. Contact High Sierra Management for specific instructions.
Credit Card Payments: The Board of Directors has authorized “electronic” credit card payments for the annual maintenance fees and costs by visiting
www.highsierramanagement.com and then following the link labeled “Pay assessments on-line.” A user fee will be incurred for this service.
Residents can now pay assessments online at the Smartstreet website here: https://www.mysmartstreet.com/. Then click Online Payments in the upper-left of the main page to submit a payment electronically.
NOTE
If you have a mortgage, do not assume that your mortgage company provides an escrow account for this fee. If you believe your mortgage company does provide this service, call them to confirm that they will make the timely payment of the account. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to ensure payment, and it may be necessary to forward the annual statement to the mortgage company prior to the due date.
