[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by npwalters

I have been listening and, of course, everyone is entitled to opinions. I share mine quite often.

This is the first time I have seen political opinion within the "new construction" videos.

This was not a political opinion on my part other than to point out the deception of the county road assessment fee that has been the propaganda of the newly elected county commissioners to make it fit their agenda of hate and contempt for the developer of The Villages.

Let's be clear about the road impact fee, 100% of the impact fee is collected. The amount is determined by an impact fee study done by a 3rd party entity, Tindal Oliver of Tampa FL, for the county. In the impact fee study T-O identifies the not only the cost and financial impact of new construction projects on the road systems of Sumter County, but also the revenue source of revenue that is used to offset these costs. The 40% that everyone is focused on is the builder's share of these costs. T-O identifies the revenue sources that supply the remining 60% of the funding. Specifically, the majority of these funds, which are called "credits" in the report, come from state and local fees/taxes that area assessed.

In Sumter County, as in all other counties, there is the ability to tax fuel sales on a per gallon basis. The State of Florida assess 2 cents and another 8 cents are levied through other provisions that are allowed for impact fee recovery. The State returns the 2 cents + or - back to the county based on statewide determinations. The local fees collected are applied directly towards the impact costs. Again both of these are considered Credits in the report.

The fuel tax levies are a good thing for Sumter County because of 2 things - The Florida Turnpike and I-75. The Okahumpaka service plaza and the gas stations and trucks tops at the various I-75 exits provide the vast majority of the taxes collected. Translated more simply, the people passing through Sumter County pay the majority of these fees, not the residents.

Florida law requires that if the impact fees are collected through other means (i.e. raising the % charged to the builders) then any relief must be immediately provided to the other sources of revenue. So if the rate is raised on the builders, the gas tax charged must, by law, be reduced. It cannot be returned to the counties general funds or used for other uses.

The residents are not paying the impact fees out of the county general funds (property taxes), it is all coming from the impact fees directly charged builders and from the credits received. The developer is not making or saving a single dollar on the impact fees. Any fee charged the developer is included in the cost of the houses they sell. The developer does not receive any portion of the "credits" collected for the impact fee.

The purpose of the numbers in the video was to show the monetary impact the proposed 100% assessment would have on other construction project. The fee on a single family or retirement community home is relatively small. For retail establishments the impact is much greater. So many complain they want a Costco here in The Villages, what is the impact of the proposed 100% assessment to building a Costco, the current rate is $3,774 and the 100% rate is $9,436 - PER 1000 Square Feet. These building are typically 125,000 SqFt or larger, the difference is (9436-3774)x125=$707,750 or more to just open the doors. That cost is passed on to the customers because again, business don't pay taxes, they collect them.

You can believe the propaganda of these newly elected commissioners or you can read the impact study for yourself as I have. Agenda - 01/05/2021

The only sweetheart deal being had is by all of the residents of Sumter County, and the relief they receive from these fees by those that transit through our county.

All of this information was made known to the county commissioners on January 5th, at least 2 either failed to grasp the facts or chose not to because it didn't fit their agenda and hyperbole.

The road impact fee had zero impact on the county property taxes and the increases we had 2 years ago.

I look at things from a business perspective and deal with the FACTS not the hype, hysteria, and half-truths that are being raised, and too many have come to believe as truth. What I put is my videos and post on-line is carefully researched for accuracy.