My property taxes here in the Sumter County part of The Villages have decreased--both the millage rate as well as the actual tax bill--each of the years that we've lived here. Since "One Sumter" was passed, the new group of County Commissioners seem to be doing an outstanding job of controlling county spending while at the same time maintaining or even improving services. I've attended several commissioner's meetings and it's pretty clear that they give each and every dollar spent here serious thought, considering all the alternatives available.

Don't get me wrong. I know that the primary reason why our property taxes have declined is because tax revenues from the fast-growing Villages part of the county are increasing far faster than the county budget. The "truth" will be told when the population of the county stabilizes, of course. But in the meantime, we enjoy our little "bubble" of prosperity here in central Florida, where many of the experiences that we've come to expect from government don't seem to apply here.