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Aspen — The homeowners' associations that govern employee housing complexes in Aspen and Pitkin County may get some outside help in figuring out how much they should be collecting in dues and saving up to handle repairs and replacement of things such as roofs, boilers and other common elements.

But how much money the homeowners themselves should pony up to pay for the professional advice was a matter of debate last week among Pitkin County commissioners.

The proposal before the county estimated the cost of having "capital reserve studies" done for each of 42 homeowners' associations at $126,000, with the county and the city of Aspen each kicking in $37,800, the Aspen/Pitkin County Housing Authority paying $25,200 out of its own funds, and employee homeowners themselves paying the remainder - at $30 per housing unit.

Commissioner George Newman questioned why local governments should shoulder the lion's share of the cost, and Commissioner Jack Hatfield flatly rejected the county's financial participation.

"I'm not in any way, shape or form going to support any amount of money from Pitkin County for this," Hatfield said. "It's absolutely wrong."

Other citizens, who don't live in worker housing, have to figure out things such as the need for a capital reserve fund and how big a savings account they need without the help of government-funded professional assistance, he noted.

"It looks like failure to take care of your own affairs," Hatfield said.

On the other hand, his colleagues argued, making sure capital maintenance at the complexes occurs is in the government's best interest, because the housing is an asset built with significant government subsidy.

"We're doing a little hand-holding here and, yes, it's costing us a little time and money, but I think it's a good investment," Housing Director Tom McCabe said.

"Yes, it is important to protect our investment," Newman said, but he called for homeowners to "step up to the plate" at a higher level than $30 per unit.

Commissioners called for an expansion of the studies to include single-family home developments that are deed-restricted for local workers, including several mobile-home parks. The original proposal targeted complexes comprised of multifamily buildings.

Commissioner Patti Clapper said she wanted assurance that none of the money went toward a capital reserve study for free-market units. Some complexes are a mix of free-market and deed-restricted residences.

The proposal has not yet gone to Aspen City Council, but after Tuesday's session, the Housing Frontiers Group, which proposed the expenditure, reconvened and agreed to look at expanding the studies to more properties and at increasing the contribution from homeowners.

A request for quotes from firms that potentially could do the work has been issued, and responses are due back on Sept. 21, said Cindy Christensen, housing operations manager.