budget question

I checked earlier forums on budgets. But still need to aske a question.
Following are our budgeted items:
advertising, safety, pest control, utilities, housekeeping, postage and mailing, printing and copying, office supplies (other), Maintenance, business expense, manager's fees, accounting fees, legal fees, outside contract services, contract services (other), survey, equipment rental, supplies, telephone-telecommunications, security system, trash removal, insuarance, savings, taxes, capital expenses.

Last year I spend hours preparinga budget. (We did not have one the previous year and I was new to the Board)

This year another Board member helped and it went much faster, but since last year's bookkeeper could not attend the meeting (physical problems) we were at a loss as to what some of the expenses were.

Contract services were certainly things like the elevator company, lawn service.

We were not 100% certain what was covered under other contract services.
The other Board member wondered if there were a budget template we could use.
We have already done the budget for this year (just needs entire Board approval)
But it will help for next year, or even later in this year.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Bonnie,

Excel documents allow you to create an excellent budget template using the expenses you face that you can list. Add to the list as you learn the individual expenses that aren't categorized. It's unusual what you face, but go forward in good faith and transparency.

Bonnie,

I'm not in a COA, but I'm willing to share our budget with you so you can have a place to start. email me if you want it: [email protected]

Your going to need to sit down with the Treasurer to draft a proper budget. In my Association, it's the treasurer that drafts the proposed budget. Without a proper budget you can't set the correct assessment amount.

Tim

I agree, you need a list of expenses before you can submit a budget otherwise your wasting your time. Make an appointment with the bookkeeper and get this info. If they cannot meet with you, its obvious a new bookkeeper needs to be hired. There is a paper trail somewhere, even if you have to use bank statements to look up expenses.

Each committee has a separate checking account? Huh?

I have no idea how it was done before and when I mentioned that we should have a budget before increasing fees, I was basically told we need to increase the fees first. To me that is putting the cart before the horse.
Our fees are going up but not until June. We do have a budget that fits the increase.
Sometimes I feel like I am hitting my head against a brick wall. I thought maybe our documents specified we have a budget first, but apparently it doesn't just that the Board has the authority to increase fees.