Fair Trading advises that the 'appropriate' way to raise funding is by way of contributions and adjustments to the sinking fund (our current sinking fund has a number of unapproved discretionary items in it). Our concern is the EC is hopeful a large special levy faces likely rejection, whereas contributions to the sinking fund may be accepted out of habit. Sounds paranoid, but this EC has a 7 year history of neglect when it comes to structural works, preferring to spend money on cosmetic things.
We live in a block of 36 units built in the 1970s. There are 7 people on the EC and they have 8 firm proxies (including one who owns 3 units). Therefore they can easily stack the EC (which they do) and control the votes on most issues.
In hindsight, we should have acted earlier. Bad apples don't come good.