We have only had once instance of a special levy for repairs to our complex (when our insurer informed us that areas of the common property did not meet building code standards and needed attention). The repairs were not urgent ie the complex was not falling apart, but money needed to be spent. We divided our special levy over a number of months to ease the burden on owners.
Perhaps you could do that too. Owners could put in an extra amount every quarter for the special levy and that money could start to be used. Even getting reports done costs money. Then you can look at how much to raise the levies.
We have quite low levies in our complex. However, our complex is not very old. And levies have gradually increased over the years (now almost double). Though I do fear that owners believe that levies will never have to go up much in the future. Owners here have indicated that they would prefer the occasional special levy rather than large increases in levies in general. I don't think owners realise that with the complex getting older, and costs getting higher, that both special levies and raised levies will be in our future.