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Don, I’m very confused. Before digging into the financials, I need to understand the overarching issues.

Background:
o Don Wiley states “The vote on the general election ballot on November 8th is only about establishing the IFD and not about the ambulance services. The ambulance service issue was resolved last year and is moving forward in both fire districts. This is the result of residents of The Villages and County Residents requirements for better, more effective, and more responsive emergency transport services. The BOCC listened and reacted accordingly. This higher level of service will come with a price that reflects additional staffing and equipment costs. In the ideal world, these will be cost neutral and self-funding from the transport fees collected.”

o Districtgov.org states “What will I be getting with the annual increase? The Villages Public Safety Department heard from the thousands of residents that they wanted better services and response times than they were receiving from the current transport and service provider. This budget was created to include the revenues and expenditures to provide those comprehensive services, consistent to the higher level of services that residents of The Villages expect in all areas of their lifestyle.


Comments & Questions:
1. Although this emphasizes that the ambulance service issue and the IFD vote this November are separate issues, the messaging seems to treat them as one. For example, “one last thought” on the decision voters must make re: IFD refers to “let the hand of your most cherished one go as they are loaded into the ambulance”
2. It appears the October 2022 change from contracted ambulance service to in-house ambulance and transport should result in better and “more responsive emergency rescue, medical, and transport services”. Given that, why are we considering a separate major change to create two independent Fire Control and Rescue entities?
3. The Districtgov.org site refers to self-governance and autonomy and independent financial sustainability as reasons for forming an IFD. Have Sumter-county residents outside The Villages indicated that they do not also want better and “more responsive emergency rescue, medical, and transport services”?
4. Since the Sumter County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) previously approved to maintain two distinct Fire & rescue operations I assume they discussed a comprehensive set of pros and cons for establishing the IFD. Could you please share that list (or something similar)?
5. You state that "We will have an independent company review and analyze the costs associated with the county fire department and transport services (ambulance) in the current budget and projected for the upcoming year." Wouldn't it be wise (and perhaps more cost efficient) to have the same independent review and analysis for the VPSD & IFD? Is that planned?
6. To prevent residents from being hit with huge ambulance transport bills, will the new ambulance service be contracted as in-network with major health insurance companies?

Thanks