Westlake wins reimbursement for services
Fred Pilot sent along this link to a New Jersey story that illustrates how the Condo Services Act (also known as the Municipal Services Act) works in that state. The law requires municipalities to reimburse condos and HOAs for the cost of certain specified muni services that the residents pay for like everybody else (through property tax) but don't receive because, for example, the trash trucks can't drive down the private streets.

Jackson officials have settled the township’s debt with residents of the Westlake adult community for more than a quarter million dollars. That is the amount owed in reimbursement from 2000-05 for unused municipal services. Under the terms of an agreement provided by Township Attorney Kevin Starkey, a total of $279,112 will be remitted in installment payments to Westlake Master Association Inc. to cover reimbursement of street lighting and snow removal that residents paid for through dues to their homeowners association as well as in their property tax payments to the township.