Jackson Heights Life

I don't know that there is a fixed spending limit, or rule of thumb about such matters, and in fact, how much freedom the board has to make such decisions varies from building to building. Smaller coops tend to insist on consensus-building, while larger ones delegate this to the board; sometimes bylaws specify some of these details as well.

In any case, boards are accountable to the shareholders. So, if shareholders have concerns about the projects that are being undertaken, you certainly have a right to get in touch, express your concerns and ask for clarification on the priorities and financing -- and do so before making assumptions about their agenda. It may very well be the case that they have a good reason for undertaking some of these projects, even the cosmetic ones, that you just don't know. It's also legitimate to ask about financing and assessments.

Those are also questions to be discussed at shareholders meetings.

Have you read your coop's bylaws? That's the first place to go to figure out the relevant rules.

I remember that you posted a similar concern about your building about a year ago.  Have you taken any direct action since?  As others have noted, there absolutely is a set in stone guideline: Your co-op by-laws.  Was the election of the board or its subsequent actions in violation of your by-laws?  If no, then your only recourse is to persuade the majority of shareholders to align with your interests.  Co-ops are one of the last gasps of direct democracy left around here, a very cool privilege, but it bears the responsibility of being gracious if the majority tacks against your priorities.

If I can practically figure out the building you live in, then your fellow shareholders certainly can, so it might be best to try and work these things out discretely rather than airing them out here.  Good luck with everything though!

Boards have broad leeway when it comes to spending and the building's budget. You didn't say how much they were spending or on what items but the difficult part from a board perspective is what's expensive to one person isn't to another.

That said, the board has a duty to be transparent about it spending and budgeting. The board's plans for the future should be well laid out at the annual meeting. They should be discussing the projects they anticipate and roughly how much they think these will cost. They should have the budget on hand for you to examine and discuss. But since many things can come up between annual meetings many boards communicate their plans in brief memos to the building.

If you feel that the board isn't being communicative enough or transparent enough I would raise the issue with a board member privately first or simply ask to attend the next board meeting and raise it there. It's probably best to start off slowly and by giving them the benefit of the doubt. If you are completely stonewalled and you sense building-wide dismay with the board the bylaws likely allow for unit owners to call a board meeting. (Usually this requires 3/4 of the unit owners, or some majority.)

Spending is one of the toughest issues. And sometimes it's generational. By that I mean, newcomers to the building have certain expectations (likely based on the fact that it cost them a bundle to buy) and more longtime residents may be more conservative because they don't want the maintenance to go or they just think some of the upgrade are unnecessary.

Good luck.

the difficult part from a board perspective is what's expensive to one person isn't to another.

It may be difficult if the board isn't paying attention to who their fellow shareholders are. I'm a relatively new shareholder in my building (less than four years), and I'm very clear that there are a lot of older residents in my coop. I had grandparents. I know they lived on a fixed income and I understand that an ever increasing maintenance fee would be an issue for long time residents. As it will probably become an issue to me one day too if I'm ever able to actually retire and try live off my savings and social security.