[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by ColdNoMore

I heard that they are looking for ways to save money, so they are reducing the number and types of flower plantings near the roundabouts...so as to fund a fireworks display next 4th of July on Lake Sumter.

Having set through multiple budget meetings and workshops this year for several of the numbered (residential) districts, and PWAC, this was never discussed in any of these meetings. Specifically, this would have been covered by the PWAC budget for the Project Wide Fund, and neither the subject of reducing the plantings nor funding fireworks displays was discussed. The multi-year landscape contracts call for 4 bedding plant replacements per year and these contracts have not been modified to reduce the number of plantings.

Additionally, the funding for the landscape maintenance comes from the Project Wide fund which is funded from the annual maintenance assessments received from the numbered districts (included in your annual property tax bill from the county). A fireworks display would be funded by the Recreation Department which is funded by the monthly amenities fees collected. Two separate and independent budgets and funds that do not and cannot mix.

With respect to changing the number of plantings each year - currently 4 - this would be considered a level of service change and would require agreement by all parties to change, this would include the residents, the number districts, and the commercial districts, and since it would impact District 12 the developer would have to agree (they pay the maintenance assessments for all unsold and yet unbuilt properties). Also, due to interlocal government agreements a level of service change would have to be consistent across all areas of The Villages so this would mean all parties north and south of CR466 would have to agree to this change. I don't see it happening.

Fireworks over lake Sumter will not happen because the falling embers from the shells could fall on resident homes (and residents) and represents too large a liability. The lake is simply too small (too narrow) to support a display. Any risks that other communities may take to provide fireworks displays is there decision, The Villages has a lower tolerance for such risk.

The trolls would come out from under their rocks again and complain about how much of their money is being wasted on the displays, how you can see them in neighboring communities for free, the traffic it would cause, how it's too risky, how their little dogs are frightened by the noise, how the embers are polluting the lake, (shall I go on?), and of course the favorite how "the developer" should be paying for this and not the residents.

Your having "heard that they..." is nothing more that a resident wish and not a reality.