Agriculturally Exempt Grazing
Association Management
Empire South Association Management provides professional management services to agriculturally exempt grazing associations and acreage communities located throughout Texas.
Supporting Agriculturally Exempt Grazing Communities at Every Stage
These types of communities share many of the same financial, administrative, and owner relations responsibilities as traditional community associations. However, the governing documents for these properties may also be structured around the continued agricultural use of the property.
The day-to-day operation of an association requires significant time and effort, and Empire South Association Management handles that work.
Empire South Association Management also works with both developer-controlled and owner-controlled communities.
What is an Agriculturally Exempt Grazing Association?
An agriculturally exempt grazing association is a community association organized around property that continues to be used for agricultural purposes. This is often accomplished through livestock grazing across acreage within the development.
In Texas, “ag exempt” is the term commonly used for property that qualifies for agricultural appraisal based on its agricultural use. Within a grazing association, the governing documents define what roles the association and the property owners will assume with respect to shared responsibilities, grazing-related procedures, owner obligations, and other operational matters connected to the agricultural use of the property.
Because every community has its own governance structure, the way those responsibilities are divided between the association and individual property owners is determined by the governing documents.
What Does Grazing Association Management Include?
Empire South Association Management handles many of the financial, operational, and administrative tasks involved in managing a grazing association.
The services we provide vary depending on the requirements of the community and its governing documents and can include some or all of the following:
Communication with owners
Collection of assessments
Facilitation of obtaining agricultural tax exemption
Working with local vendors to maintain agricultural exemption status
Preparation of budgets and financial administration
Recordkeeping
Support for board and annual meetings
Coordination of vendors
Administration of covenants and restrictions
Processing of architectural requests
Coordination of committees
Development of policies and procedures
Assistance to developers during control periods
Turnover and transition assistance
Experience Managing Texas Grazing Associations
Empire South Association Management has direct experience managing grazing associations and acreage communities in Texas. We understand the additional administrative and operational considerations that can arise when a community is structured around continued agricultural use.
Our experience includes:
Grazing association management in Palo Pinto, Burnet, Coryell, and Bandera Counties in Texas
Facilitate and manage “ag” exemptions through different agricultural uses to include; beekeeping, cattle grazing, elk and exotic livestock.
Managing the Association Around Its Governing Documents
Grazing associations can have responsibilities that differ significantly from those of typical residential associations. Their governing documents may address agricultural use, shared property, owner responsibilities, association responsibilities, architectural standards, and other requirements, and those provisions affect how the community functions.
Empire South Association Management uses the governing documents to establish the processes needed to manage routine association business. In doing so, we are able to handle owner requests, association responsibilities, and other day-to-day issues in a consistent manner.
When an issue arises that requires legal interpretation or clarification, we can assist the association by coordinating with its counsel to provide the board with the direction it needs to proceed.
Management Built Around Your Community
Managing Assessments and Association Finances
Grazing associations have many of the same financial responsibilities as other community associations. The cost of running the association, maintaining shared property or services, paying vendors, funding professional services, and covering other expenses established by the governing documents may all be funded through assessments.
Empire South Association Management collects those assessments, responds to owner inquiries about their accounts, and follows the association’s established procedures when an account becomes delinquent.
In addition, we create budgets that reflect the association’s anticipated operating expenses and submit them to the board for review and approval. In cases where a budget has been created prior to our management of the association, we can use it as a starting point and adjust the budget and financial processes as the community’s responsibilities evolve.
Giving Property Owners a Clear Point of Contact
Empire South Association Management provides owners with a single point of contact for association-related matters. This includes questions regarding assessments, notices, meetings, governing document requirements, owner requests, and other day-to-day issues.
If a matter requires input from the board of directors, the developer, association counsel, or another third-party professional, we ensure that it reaches the appropriate person.
By providing one point of contact for association-related questions, Empire South Association Management keeps routine matters moving while reducing the number of everyday inquiries that fall directly on board members or the development team.
Coordinating Vendors and Association Services
Empire South Association Management assists the association by soliciting bids from potential vendors or service providers, presenting proposals to the board for review, and coordinating with the selected vendor once approved.
The board remains responsible for selecting and approving the services that best serve the association’s interests, while Empire South Association Management performs much of the administrative work involved in managing those vendor relationships.
As the community grows or its responsibilities change, we can also help identify new service needs and coordinate additional vendors as necessary.
Day-to-Day Management, Taken Care Of
Empire South Association Management works with developer-controlled grazing associations at various stages of development.
At the start of an engagement, we work with the developer to determine how ongoing association business will be handled.
Once those procedures are in place, we are able to handle many day-to-day association matters without continually referring them back to the developer for input or guidance.
As the development grows and changes, responsibilities and expenses may shift from the developer to the association. When that happens, we can adjust budgets, coordinate vendors and services, and take on additional association responsibilities as those obligations change.
In many Texas grazing communities, continued agricultural use is an important part of how the property is structured and operated.
The governing documents for these communities may include provisions related to grazing, land use, fencing, shared property, and other requirements designed to help maintain the agricultural character of the community.
Empire South Association Management helps administer those association-level requirements as part of the community’s day-to-day operations. We communicate the requirements to owners, process their requests based on the association’s established procedures, and coordinate with the board or association counsel if an issue arises that requires further review.
Qualification for agricultural appraisal is determined under Texas law and by the applicable county appraisal district. Empire South Association Management’s role is to manage the association and its responsibilities. We do not guarantee any individual property’s tax status.
Grazing Association Management
That Serves Your Community
If you are looking for an experienced management partner for your Texas grazing association, we’d be glad to talk.
Contact Empire South Association Management today to learn how we can support your community.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a grazing association management company do?
A grazing association management company performs much of the financial, administrative and operational work associated with managing the association.
Does Empire South Association Management manage grazing associations in Texas?
Yes. Empire South Association Management has direct experience managing grazing associations in Texas, including communities in Palo Pinto, Burnet, Coryell and Bandera Counties.
Does grazing association management guarantee an agricultural exemption?
No. Qualification for agricultural appraisal is determined by Texas law and the specific requirements of the applicable county appraisal district. Empire South Association Management manages the association and its responsibilities. It does not guarantee the tax status of any particular property.
Can Empire South Association Management manage a developer-controlled grazing association?
Yes. Empire South Association Management has experience with both grazing associations and developer-controlled communities at various stages of development. We can assist with owner communications, assessments, budgeting, vendor coordination and other common activities associated with the operation of a grazing association. Additionally, we can assist in preparing the association for the eventual transition to owner control.
Can Empire South Association Management take over an existing grazing association?
Yes. Empire South Association Management can begin with the association’s existing governing documents, budget, procedures, vendors and operating structure, and build its management process around the community’s current responsibilities.