The board of directors may investigate the financial condition of each person liable under Section 185-30 and may make determinations of the ability of each person to pay the sums representing maintenance charges. For those purposes, the board may set a standard as a basis of judgment of ability to pay. The standard shall be recomputed periodically to reflect changes in the cost of living and other pertinent factors and to make provisions for unusual and exceptional circumstances in the application of the standard. The board may issue to any person liable under Section 185-30 statements of amounts due as maintenance charges, requiring payment in a manner to be arranged, in an amount not exceeding the average per capita operating cost determined under Section 185-35.