Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 828 - Common Interest Ownership Act
Section 47-261e. - Adoption of budgets. Special assessments. Loan agreements.

(a)(1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the executive board, at least annually, shall adopt a proposed budget for the common interest community for consideration by the unit owners. Not later than thirty days after the adoption of a proposed budget, the executive board shall provide to all unit owners a summary of the proposed budget, including a statement of the amount of any reserves, and a statement of the basis on which such reserves are calculated and funded. Simultaneously, the board shall set a date not less than ten days or more than sixty days after providing the summary for either a meeting of the unit owners or a vote by ballot without a meeting to consider approval or rejection of the proposed budget. If, at that meeting or in the vote by ballot, a majority of all unit owners or any larger number specified in the declaration votes to reject the proposed budget, the proposed budget shall be rejected. If, at that meeting or in the vote by ballot, a majority of all unit owners or any larger number specified in the declaration does not vote to reject the proposed budget, the proposed budget shall be approved. The absence of a quorum at such meeting or participating in the vote by ballot shall not affect rejection or approval of the proposed budget. If a proposed budget is rejected, the budget last approved by the unit owners continues until unit owners approve a subsequent budget. If a proposed budget is not rejected in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision, the proposed budget shall be deemed approved.

(2) The executive board of an association of a common interest community, or of a master association as defined in section 47-239 exercising the powers on behalf of one or more common interest communities or for the benefit of the unit owners of one or more common interest communities, which community or communities were established prior to July 3, 1991, and have more than two thousand four hundred residential units, at least annually, shall adopt a proposed budget for the common interest community for consideration by the unit owners. Not later than thirty days after the adoption of a proposed budget, the executive board shall provide to all unit owners a summary of the proposed budget, including a statement of the amount of any reserves, and a statement of the basis on which such reserves are calculated and funded. Simultaneously, the board shall set a date not less than ten days or more than sixty days after providing the summary for either a meeting of the unit owners or a vote by ballot without a meeting to consider approval or rejection of the proposed budget. If, at that meeting or in the vote by ballot, a majority of unit owners actually voting votes to reject the proposed budget, the proposed budget shall be rejected, provided not less than thirty-three and one-third per cent of the unit owners entitled to vote on the proposed budget vote at that meeting or in the vote by ballot to reject the proposed budget. If an association's declaration or bylaws include quorum requirements for a meeting, the absence of a quorum at such meeting or participating in the vote by ballot shall not affect rejection or approval of the proposed budget. If a proposed budget is rejected, the budget last approved by the unit owners continues until unit owners approve a subsequent budget. If a proposed budget is not rejected in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision, the proposed budget shall be deemed approved.
(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the executive board, at any time, may propose a special assessment. Not later than thirty days after adoption of a proposed special assessment, the executive board shall provide to all unit owners a summary of the proposed special assessment. Unless the declaration or bylaws otherwise provide, if the proposed special assessment, together with all other special and emergency assessments proposed by the executive board in the same calendar year, does not exceed fifteen per cent of the association's last adopted periodic budget for that calendar year, the proposed special assessment is effective without approval of the unit owners. Otherwise, the board shall set a date not less than ten days or more than sixty days after providing the summary for either a meeting of the unit owners or a vote by ballot without a meeting to consider approval or rejection of the proposed special assessment. If, at that meeting or in the vote by ballot, a majority of all unit owners or any larger number specified in the declaration votes to reject the special assessment, the special assessment shall be rejected. If, at such meeting or in the balloting, a majority of all unit owners or any larger number specified in the declaration does not vote to reject the special assessment, the special assessment shall be approved. The absence of a quorum at such meeting or participating in the vote by ballot shall not affect the rejection or approval of the special assessment. If a proposed special assessment is not rejected in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision, the proposed special assessment shall be deemed approved.
(2) The executive board of an association of a common interest community, or of a master association as defined in section 47-239 exercising the powers on behalf of one or more common interest communities or for the benefit of the unit owners of one or more common interest communities, which community or communities were established prior to July 3, 1991, and have more than two thousand four hundred residential units, at any time, may propose a special assessment. Not later than thirty days after adoption of a proposed special assessment, the executive board shall provide to all unit owners a summary of the proposed special assessment. Unless the declaration or bylaws otherwise provide, if the proposed special assessment, together with all other special and emergency assessments proposed by the executive board in the same calendar year, does not exceed fifteen per cent of the association's last adopted periodic budget for that calendar year, the proposed special assessment is effective without approval of the unit owners. Otherwise, the board shall set a date not less than ten days or more than sixty days after providing the summary for either a meeting of the unit owners or a vote by ballot without a meeting to consider approval or rejection of the proposed special assessment. If, at that meeting or in the vote by ballot, a majority of unit owners actually voting votes to reject the proposed special assessment, the proposed special assessment shall be rejected, provided not less than thirty-three and one-third per cent of the unit owners entitled to vote on the proposed special assessment vote at that meeting or in the vote by ballot to reject the proposed special assessment. If an association's declaration or bylaws include quorum requirements for a meeting, the absence of a quorum at such meeting or participating in the vote by ballot shall not affect the rejection or approval of the proposed special assessment. If a proposed special assessment is not rejected in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision, the proposed special assessment shall be deemed approved.
(c) If the executive board determines by a two-thirds vote that a special assessment is necessary to respond to an emergency: (1) The special assessment becomes effective immediately in accordance with the terms of the vote; (2) notice of the emergency assessment must be provided promptly to all unit owners; and (3) the executive board may spend the funds paid on account of the emergency assessment only for the purposes described in the vote.
(d) Notwithstanding any provision of the declaration or bylaws to the contrary, at least fourteen days prior to entering into any loan agreement on behalf of the association, the executive board shall (1) disclose in a record to all unit owners the amount and terms of the loan and the estimated effect of such loan on any common expense assessment, and (2) afford the unit owners a reasonable opportunity to submit comments in a record to the executive board with respect to such loan.
(e) Unless prohibited or otherwise limited in the declaration, if the executive board proposes to enter into a loan agreement on behalf of the association and to assign its right to future income as security for such loan pursuant to subdivision (14) of subsection (a) of section 47-244, then, in addition to satisfying the requirements of subsection (d) of this section, unit owners of units to which at least a majority of the votes in the association are allocated, or any larger percentage or fraction stated in the declaration, must vote in favor of or agree to such assignment.
(P.A. 09-225, S. 37; P.A. 10-186, S. 18; P.A. 13-182, S. 1; P.A. 14-215, S. 8; P.A. 15-14, S. 15.)
History: P.A. 09-225 effective July 1, 2010; P.A. 10-186 amended Subsec. (a) to add “a statement of the amount of” re reserves, amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to replace “otherwise” with provisions re if, at meeting or in vote by ballot, majority of unit owners or larger specified number does not vote to reject budget or special assessment, amended Subsec. (b) to substitute “special assessment” for “budget”, and made technical and conforming changes in Subsecs. (a) and (b), effective July 1, 2010; P.A. 13-182 amended Subsec. (a) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and amending same to add “Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection,”, add “If a proposed budget is not rejected in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision, the proposed budget shall be deemed approved.” and make technical changes, and by adding Subdiv. (2) re adoption of proposed budgets in common interest communities established prior to July 3, 1991, which have more than 2,400 residential units, and amended Subsec. (b) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and amending same to add “Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection,”, add “If a proposed special assessment is not rejected in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision, the proposed special assessment shall be deemed approved.” and make technical changes, and by adding Subdiv. (2) re adoption of proposed special assessments in common interest communities established prior to July 3, 1991, which have more than 2,400 residential units; P.A. 14-215 amended Subsecs. (a)(2) and (b)(2) by adding “actually voting” re votes to reject and made a technical change in Subsec. (b)(2), effective June 13, 2014; P.A. 15-14 made technical changes in Subsec. (b)(1) and (2).

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