Which element is included in a management contract?

• A. Establish architectural standards
• B. Set annual budget
• C. Specify the manager's authority and duties
• D. List resident names

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that a management contract should fix what the manager is allowed to do and what tasks they must perform. By specifying the manager’s authority and duties, the contract creates a clear boundary for decision-making and daily responsibilities. This helps ensure the association’s operations run smoothly, avoids ambiguity, and provides a basis for accountability if performance isn’t meeting expectations. The manager might be authorized to handle vendor contracts up to a certain amount, hire staff, oversee maintenance, and prepare financial reports, while other tasks or decisions stay under the board’s jurisdiction.

Other options don’t typically belong in a management contract because they’re governed by other processes: architectural standards are set by the association’s policy or architectural committee; the annual budget is the board’s financial plan (with the manager often assisting rather than “setting” it); and listing resident names is data management, not a contracted duty.