Lynn Nguyen, who is preparing to move into a home in the community south of Morganton, said he received a bill for $3,800. He said he has asked for financial records but has not received a response.

Stephanie Wagner, who lives in one of Pine Mountain’s condos, said her annual association bill is now $4,200, up from about $1,000. The increase has added pressure at a time when, she said, many households are already struggling with costs.

Kimberly Hovis described her increase as 97%.

The fee increases follow a water crisis earlier this year. A pump failed in one of Pine Mountain’s wells, and some residents went without running water for weeks. Some turned to a nearby stream to get water to flush toilets.

Pine Mountain Property Owners Association President Chase Billow said the community has gone years without a reserve fund and has substantial deferred maintenance. The association is trying to improve its finances and address upkeep without placing too much of the burden on property owners, he said.

The community has about 1,200 lots and 27 miles of roads, while Billow said roughly 100 homeowners and 30 condo owners currently live there. The association says it held two public meetings at a local fire station and made a proposed budget available before final approval.

North Carolina’s attorney general’s office said state law does not set a cap on the fees an owners association can charge. Boards must, however, follow their governing documents when setting fees.

For Pine Mountain residents, the dispute puts the cost of maintaining shared infrastructure alongside questions about how association decisions are communicated and how owners can review spending—concerns sharpened by the recent failure of a basic service.