Quote:
Originally Posted by Advogado
You are right, the stench is overwhelming.
People not outraged by what has transpired are either affiliated with the Developer, affiliated with the County Commission, don't understand what has happened, or don't mind what amounts to their and other Sumter County residents' having their pockets picked to benefit the Developer.
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...or, it doesn't have any affect on us *personally* since we don't live in Sumter County, but we are concerned on principal. See this is the kind of rhetoric and hyperbole I'm talking about. You're quick to judge me because I called you out on being over-emotive about what is a very important issue, calling more attention to your reaction than to the issue itself.
My house is in Lake County. I already pay higher taxes than you do over in Sumter, so no - this really has zero effect on me personally. But I also don't approve of the developer having such low impact fees.
I also don't think it makes any sense at all to compare with Collier. It's apples and oranges. Impact fees in Collier cover the costs of every department in the district. Impact fees in Sumter only cover the cost of roads and maintenance thereof.
I feel if Sumter were to increase taxes by 4% this year, 4% next year, and 4% the third year - AND increase the developer's impact fee to $1200 per unit, it would provide for pretty much everything the county needs without pushing away all the residents who are NOT Villagers, who rely on jobs in and near the Villages at minimum wage, and are struggling to pay their rent/mortgage as it is.
A modest tax increase AND a modest impact fee increase.
If you put the entire burden on the developer, then the developer will have to raise his prices. He might not raise them the full amount but you can bet for sure they'll go up. And that will be the beginning of the end of "affordable" in their marketing strategy.