Community Association Board Member Learning & Development
Board News and Education - February 2026
Dear Board Member,
We’ve designated February as Financial Literacy Month. Feedback from our recent Board Certification and CEU programs made one thing very clear — the number one topic board members want help with is understanding how to read their association’s financial reports. In response, we’ve created a new live Zoom session:
Board Financial Literacy: What Your Financials Are Really Saying.
This two-hour discussion is focused entirely on helping board members interpret their financial statements with confidence. We won’t be covering budgets or statutes — just the numbers, what they mean, and how they support thoughtful, well-informed decisions. To give you a preview, we’ve also included two “Top 10” lists in this newsletter highlighting key concepts we’ll explore during the session. We hope this program provides the clarity and confidence you’ve been looking for, and we look forward to seeing you there.
— Be well. Doug Jenkins, Director of Learning & Development
February Online Board Education Events
Registration is required for all courses.
New Condominium Board Member Four Hour Certification
DBPR Required Four Hour Certification Course for new Condominium Association Board Members Subject to Florida Statute 718
Feb 11, 2026 1:00-5:00 PM
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_F1EhclkqQYWTe-MP8JcbdA
New Homeowners' Board Member Four Hour Certification
DBPR Required Four Hour Certification Course for new Homeowners' Association Board Members Subject to Florida Statute 720.
Feb 17, 2026 1:00-5:00 PM
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_r-jbNbucTsKRL7mS4npR6Q
2025 Legislative Update - Condominium Board Member One Hour CEU
An overview of 2025 Florida House Bill 913 (HB 913). This discussion qualifies as a Condominium Board Member One Hour CEU.
Feb 18, 2026 4:00-5:00 PM
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yTG61oJATjC_2ch4FrgxmA
NEW ONLINE COURSE!
Board Financial Literacy: What Your Financials Are Really Saying
Helps board members confidently understand the Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and the impact of accrual accounting. Learn how to interpret trends, recognize red flags, and understand how reserve-funded capital projects should be tracked for transparency and stronger financial oversight.
Feb 25, 2026 3:00-5:00 PM
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__d9Q_n1lTS6Ygyxs3mVR-w
10 Financial Red Flags HOA Boards Should Watch Monthly
You don’t need to be an accountant to lead well — but you do need financial literacy. Here are 10 red flags HOA and condo association board members should watch:
1. Delinquencies trending upward 2+ months
2. Aging receivables not moving (30/60/90+)
3. Bank reconciliations not current
4. “Misc expense” growing with no explanation
5. Reserves being used for operating bills
6. Vendors billing outside contract scope
7. Utility costs rising without investigation
8. Deferred maintenance increasing
9. Large budget variances with vague notes
10. No simple explanation of “what changed this month?”
🚩 The best boards ask better questions. If you’re on a community association board, don’t be afraid to ask informed questions and demand clear answers from your accounting team and partners.
Myth vs. Reality
Surplus Means We Should Reduce Assessments
❌ Board Myth
“We had a surplus — we should reduce assessments.”
✅ The Reality
Surplus often means one of these:
• Projects didn’t happen yet
• Reserves are underfunded
• Collections timing shifted
• Expenses were delayed
📌 Better approach: Treat surplus like a signal to review planning, not celebrate.
60-Second Board Tip ⏱️
Cash vs Accrual
This one causes so much confusion.
✅ Cash Basis: Income/expenses recorded when money moves
✅ Accrual Method: Income/expenses recorded when earned/incurred
Why it Matters: You can look “fine” on cash while quietly heading toward trouble that’s clearly visible on accrual statements.
10 Condo Financial Terms Every Director Must Understand
Condo boards oversee big money and bigger risk. Here are 10 financial terms every director should be able to explain:
1. Operating fund vs reserves
2. Restricted reserves
3. Deferred maintenance
4. Special assessment triggers
5. Funding schedule vs project timeline
6. Loan vs assessment financing
7. Cash vs accrual
8. Delinquency % and its impact
9. Budget variance (and “why” matters)
10. Fully funded baseline (reserve adequacy)
📊 You can’t lead what you don’t understand. To fulfill your fiduciary responsibilities, take courses that teach community association board finances.
Myth vs. Reality
Looks Healthy… But Is It?
❌ Board Myth
“If we have money in the bank, the association is financially healthy.”
✅ The Reality
Bank balances only tell you how much cash you have today — they don’t tell you what that money is for.
An association can have a large bank balance and still be financially strained if:
• Most of the funds are restricted for reserves
• Upcoming large expenses haven’t been planned for
• Operating costs are consistently higher than assessments
• Delinquency rates are rising
HB 657 (“HOA Killer Bill”) — What Florida HOA Boards Need to Know
Updated: January 23, 2026 - By Doug Jenkins
Florida House Bill 657 (HB 657) has quickly become one of the most discussed HOA reform proposals in years — so much so that it has been widely nicknamed the “HOA Killer Bill.” While that term is not part of the bill’s official title, it reflects the seriousness of what HB 657 proposes: a structured legal pathway that would allow homeowners to pursue the termination (dissolution) of their HOA, along with a major change to how HOA disputes could be handled in Florida.
Read our recent blog for a plain-English overview of what HB 657 proposes, why it matters, and what HOA boards should do now. READ MORE >>
HOA Turning 30: MRTA Timing, Risks, and the 720 Preservation Process
By Doug Jenkins
Florida’s Marketable Record Title Act (MRTA), Chapter 712, Florida Statutes, was designed to simplify land titles by extinguishing old covenants and restrictions after 30 years — unless they are properly preserved. For homeowners’ associations, this can have serious, often unexpected consequences.
A simple recording today, before your association ages 30 years, can prevent major legal and financial problems tomorrow. Read our recent blog for more information. READ MORE >>
New Website & Transparency Requirements for Florida Condo Associations Effective January, 1 2026
By Doug Jenkins
Florida is dramatically expanding digital transparency for condominium associations — and compliance is not optional. Starting January 1, 2026, under Florida Statute 718.111, condominium associations with 25 or more units (prior limit 150+) must establish and maintain an official association website and/or secure portal.
Digital transparency isn’t just good governance — it’s now state law for most Florida condo associations. See our recent blog for more information on Florida’s COA digital transparency laws. READ MORE >>
