A lot of this stuff can be handled with a phone call to the 800 number listed on your mortgage for customer service. I had a mortgage in Maryland and my taxes were reduced from $2800 to $600, I simply called my mortgage company and they dropped my monthly payment from $1100 to $800 and since my equity in the home was about half, the bill came right to me from then on.
You didn't say if your property here is a new home? If so, your first tax bill will be for vacant land, your mortgage company should know that and this year's payments should be low. You didn't say if you're financed with The Villages Mortgage Co, if so, they should be well aware of your situation and the taxes for Sumter County. Is your Mortgage a VA loan? If so, they should be well aware of the deduction given veterans in Florida. A phone call can handle it all.
Your tax bill will come late October or early November, is it set up go to your mortgage company or come to you? I don't think you really need to get a lawyer, if you have a phone and you're free all day, I would be making calls. If you make no calls at all, the scenario you outlined is probably what will happen. You'll pay all year and they'll pay the bill next November and you'll receive a refund and the payments will be adjusted in 2018. You could make the phone calls or pay a lawyer $500 and let him make the phone calls.
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