[Aloha1]

Originally Posted by john352

When were the voters in Sumter County ever asked if they want to pay the added property tax burden to make ”Sumter County is a model for the State of Florida for Economic Growth”?

By state laws, the county must have a balanced budget. In 2019, the five County Commissioners (who favored the developer over the current residences) increased the property tax rate by 25%. To rollback that rate increase, the new Sumter County Commission either has to reduce services or find additional revenue. One obvious source of revenue is to increase the one-time fee for the permit for new construction (impact fees). The current residences of Sumter County did not ask for the expansion of The Villages and should not be paying for any part of that expansion. Increasing the impact fees is an obvious way of shifting the burden from the current residences back to the developer where they always belonged.

First, they elected the Commissioners (we are a representative republic, remember?). Second, in reviewing my purchase agreement for TV, I do not see a clause that says "When you move in, all growth and building will stop". And third, you always have the option to sell and go elsewhere but don't count on no more growth or state taxes wherever you go to.