Quote:
Originally Posted by graciegirl
Many people who work in businesses engendered by this larger population live in Leesburg. I am not sure how the Villages could help neighbors in a way that would decrease crime.
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Working with the local youth to help them become good,
great citizens!
A quote from the Villages working with Leesburg
"“Gary Lester, on behalf of The Villages, stated that much of how The Villages was developed has to do with the people of Leesburg. Many people from Leesburg work in The Villages and The Villages are customers in the City of Leesburg. The big difference now is the direct impact of the expanded tax base.
For example, The Villages will be paying school taxes, but put no children in the schools.
They are also going to be bringing a transportation system and a use of multi-mobile trails which will lessen the impact on City and County roads, as well as being good for the environment. Mr. Lester pointed out that they are also very proud of what they are doing with the water conservation lines.
The conservation program and the use of dual water lines to every home, and the extensive use of reuse of storm water and retention ponds, has made The Villages what the state of Florida lifts up as the gold standard for conserving water and preserving our aquifer.
Mr. Lester also wanted to point out an intangible. For the first time, Leesburg will have villagers as citizens in the community and we will be blessed by it. There will be people involved in the churches, in charity, in the libraries. One example, is Sumter County schools. Wildwood Elementary School is one that has struggled for many years. It used to be a D school and has really has a tough time. Mr. Lester spoke with John Temple,
the principal of Wildwood Elementary School, and was told that the school is now a B school and that they are striving for an A. Mr. Temple told Mr. Lester that he gives a lot of credit to the teachers, parents, and to the kids themselves, but Mr. Temples also talked about the difference that the volunteers from The Villages have made in the Wildwood Elementary School.