Just received my first CDD bill

[jayerose]

:shocked::

I need to look for the paperwork when I purchased the house but I remember the amenity fee being about $165.

The following is the bill I got for the period of 2 Jul to 5 Aug:

Water base 9.70
Water use 10.40
Irrigation base 8.97
Irrigation use 47.02
Sewer base 17.24
Sewer use 19.95
Amenity fee - August 313.55
Sanitation - August 37.51
PO STN FEE $190

total of 655.35
balance forward 371.38
amount due 283.97

So I am guessing that 371.38 is credit that I paid at time of sale.

My questions are what is PO STN FEE and is the Irrigation use a set price?

Is there a way to lower the irrigation use?

thank you!!

[Dgizzi]

:shocked::

I need to look for the paperwork when I purchased the house but I remember the amenity fee being about $165.

The following is the bill I got for the period of 2 Jul to 5 Aug:

Water base 9.70
Water use 10.40
Irrigation base 8.97
Irrigation use 47.02
Sewer base 17.24
Sewer use 19.95
Amenity fee - August 313.55
Sanitation - August 37.51
PO STN FEE $190

total of 655.35
balance forward 371.38
amount due 283.97

So I am guessing that 371.38 is credit that I paid at time of sale.

My questions are what is PO STN FEE and is the Irrigation use a set price?

Is there a way to lower the irrigation use?

thank you!!
Hi why is your amenity fee $313.00? Mine is $162.00?

[Dgizzi]

Hi why is your amenity fee $313.00? Mine is $162.00?
Irrigation use is your sprinkler system. Check to see how ,any days is runs and for how long each day?

[davem4616]

Irrigation use is your sprinkler system. Check to see how ,any days is runs and for how long each day?


exactly, your sprinklers have to be running way too often and for too long...the 'irrigation use' amount should be about half that amount

my first one was a shocker too....I thought it was all water charges, until I realized the amenity fee was in it

[Stu from NYC]

The PO charge is for the privilege of having to walk/ride a half mile or so to get your mail since no mailboxes by our homes.

[jayerose]

the mailboxes are $190 a month?

[Bass56]

Go pay your bill in person and they will explain everything.
As for irrigation, ask a neighbor to show you how to use your timer box.

[Villageswimmer]

Is it possible everything was doubled? I have no idea what the PO fee is.
They’re very helpful In explaining everything if you give them a call at the phone number on the bill.

[graciegirl]

The PO charge is for the privilege of having to walk/ride a half mile or so to get your mail since no mailboxes by our homes.


The mail STATIONS are air conditioned and that is a huge plus for those of us who receive prescription medication in the mail.

[gatorbill1]

Looks like your amenity fee was for 2 months and your sprinklers must be running every day or for longer than needed time. Just need to water twice a week, and only when we don't get rain every day like now in rainy season.. There are numerous threads here about watering if you search for them. My sprinklers have been off for 2 months. Can't get away from base cost.

[jayerose]

thank you, everyone...you are all a very helpful bunch!

[Debfrommaine]

My first bill was pro-rated and I called the phone number on the bill and they explained it.......following month it leveled out.

[oldtimes]

the mailboxes are $190 a month?

I believe the post office fee is a one time charge

[tvbound]

I believe the post office fee is a one time charge

As a future resident, that's a relief to hear.

[Bilyclub]

the mailboxes are $190 a month?

One time fee and make sure you got 3 keys.

[jayerose]

I got two keys

[Stu from NYC]

The mail STATIONS are air conditioned and that is a huge plus for those of us who receive prescription medication in the mail.

Didnt realize the inside was air conditioned. Good to know as we get prescription meds in the mail too, except when it is shipped by ups in styrophone containers

[Bilyclub]

I got two keys

Back in the day the Villages kept a key. Any house under 10 years old should have 3 keys.

From an old post: "I don’t think it is still true, but I believe at one time the Villages would keep the third key. We have two homes in the Villages, both built in 2005, both had two keys. For the first one, the two keys turned over at closing did not work in the assigned mailbox. The Villages gave us their key, which worked, but we needed at least two keys. Our realtor had USPS change the lock and turned over three keys for that box."

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Also check your sprinkler heads. Our water bill was pretty high when we first bought the house, and for every month after even though we bought in March and didn't move in until November. The house was vacant inbetween, except for a week here or a few days there when we drove some of our stuff down.

I checked with the water company and they insisted that was normal useage for our area. I knew there was no way it could be normal since we weren't even THERE for most of it, to use that much water and the sprinklers were only going on twice a week for 15 minutes each time.

One day my husband was walking around the side of the shed while the sprinklers went off and saw that the water was GUSHING out of the sprinkler. The lawnmower guys must've mowed it completely off, we couldn't even find the missing pieces of it, and we have no idea how long that'd been going on.

We replaced the sprinkler head, fired our lawnmower guy, started mowing our own lawn, and the water bill dropped around 65%, AFTER we moved in.

[thevillagernie]

Yes,you can cut back on the ammt,of time...in the Garage is a timer and all you need

[EileenK]

Rent for a year!

[Rwirish]

Run your irrigation less.

[noslices1]

:shocked::

I need to look for the paperwork when I purchased the house but I remember the amenity fee being about $165.

The following is the bill I got for the period of 2 Jul to 5 Aug:

Water base 9.70
Water use 10.40
Irrigation base 8.97
Irrigation use 47.02
Sewer base 17.24
Sewer use 19.95
Amenity fee - August 313.55
Sanitation - August 37.51
PO STN FEE $190

total of 655.35
balance forward 371.38
amount due 283.97

So I am guessing that 371.38 is credit that I paid at time of sale.

My questions are what is PO STN FEE and is the Irrigation use a set price?

Is there a way to lower the irrigation use?

thank you!!

Wow, I wish my irrigation use was as low as yours. My yard is not very large, but I like green grass. I water twice a week and my irrigation use is around $100.00 per month. I guess the amenity fee can vary, depending on the Village you live in as mine is $155.00, but the rest of your bill seems normal, with the exception of the PO billing. That may be a one time charge. Wait until your next bill and see what it is. My total is around $300.00 every month, but a little less in cooler weather as I irrigate less during those months.

[gcanonge]

I am pretty sure this is a one time charge. The key would be included?

[WVB#1]

You may also want to check your closing statement as YOU may have been given credit for the prior months charge which would then mean you would also owe the balance forward amount. The balance forward amount to me means prior charges that haven't been paid. Which would be fine as long as you were given the proper credit on the settlement statement. Same with your property taxes - you should have been given credit on the settlement statement for the portion of the year you didn't own it. Then you become responsible for the entire tax bill when it comes out in November.

[Buckeye Bob]

Since it's your first bill, my guess is that it covers more than one month. Before getting yourself worked up over it, call them for an explanation.

[retiredguy123]

:shocked::

I need to look for the paperwork when I purchased the house but I remember the amenity fee being about $165.

The following is the bill I got for the period of 2 Jul to 5 Aug:

Water base 9.70
Water use 10.40
Irrigation base 8.97
Irrigation use 47.02
Sewer base 17.24
Sewer use 19.95
Amenity fee - August 313.55
Sanitation - August 37.51
PO STN FEE $190

total of 655.35
balance forward 371.38
amount due 283.97

So I am guessing that 371.38 is credit that I paid at time of sale.

My questions are what is PO STN FEE and is the Irrigation use a set price?

Is there a way to lower the irrigation use?

thank you!!
You can go to this link and type in your address (or any Villages address) and it will show a detailed online bill. Mine includes a bar chart showing the number of gallons of potable and irrigation water used. If you think your bill is too high, type in a neighbor's address and compare your bill to their bill.

https://bsaonline.com/OnlinePayment/OnlinePaymentSearch/?PaymentApplicationType=10&uid=2523

[jbrown132]

If the irrigation bill is correct and not prorated, and your timers are set to minimize watering you may want to have the system checked to see if you have a small leak in one of your zones.

[Niferlou06]

The post office fee is one time. When the Villages is selling a house they have the water run everyday to ensure the grass remains green; a neighbor or your landscaper, or ASI irrigation can assist with setting up timers.

[speedo8357]

the mailboxes are $190 a month?

No. That’s a one time charge.

[Tomptomp]

:shocked::

I need to look for the paperwork when I purchased the house but I remember the amenity fee being about $165.

The following is the bill I got for the period of 2 Jul to 5 Aug:

Water base 9.70
Water use 10.40
Irrigation base 8.97
Irrigation use 47.02
Sewer base 17.24
Sewer use 19.95
Amenity fee - August 313.55
Sanitation - August 37.51
PO STN FEE $190

total of 655.35
balance forward 371.38
amount due 283.97

So I am guessing that 371.38 is credit that I paid at time of sale.

My questions are what is PO STN FEE and is the Irrigation use a set price?

Is there a way to lower the irrigation use?

thank you!!
Check out “Gold Wingnut “ on YouTube. It is quite informative.

[DecaturFargo]

Make sure your irrigation timer is set appropriately. Each month will vary depending on how much you use. The total of your bill is about what we pay each month.

[pcacace]

We only received 2 keys. We live in El Cortez.

[TomPerry]

When we bought our house in 2016 we only got two keys, but we wanted three keys - - - one each on our two golf cart key chains and one for our car key chain. You can’t get a USPS key made anywhere, so I went to the PO in Spanish Springs across 441/27 from Rolling Acres Plaza and had them change our two key lock to a three key lock for a fee of $25.

[crash]

:shocked::

I need to look for the paperwork when I purchased the house but I remember the amenity fee being about $165.

The following is the bill I got for the period of 2 Jul to 5 Aug:

Water base 9.70
Water use 10.40
Irrigation base 8.97
Irrigation use 47.02
Sewer base 17.24
Sewer use 19.95
Amenity fee - August 313.55
Sanitation - August 37.51
PO STN FEE $190

total of 655.35
balance forward 371.38
amount due 283.97

So I am guessing that 371.38 is credit that I paid at time of sale.

My questions are what is PO STN FEE and is the Irrigation use a set price?

Is there a way to lower the irrigation use?

thank you!!

The postal fee is a one time charge. You are correct the $371 is a credit from money paid at closing The irrigation charge is not a set fee. You can lower your irrigation charge by watering less.

[Luckytwo]

It will adjust next month. We have same on our first bill.

[colleen720]

I had similar questions on my first bill. Here is what I was told:
Water, irrigation, sewer are paid in arrears. Sanitation and amenity is paid on month in advance. I didn't have a postal charge so I would call about that.
Irrigation, call MICO and have someone come out to have an orientation with you on the system. Ken was so helpful and still helps with our questions. There is a seasonal setting that will override your current settings. I personally didn't want that so he turned it off for me, but the system only allows it to be turned off for 99 days. I will need to do this again in few months as there are instructions in the materials at our house.

[merrymini]

the mailboxes are $190 a month?

No, you pay a one time fee for rekeying the mail box when you purchase a house. Being robbed. I needed to have a new key for my mailbox and the post office did it for $30. Somebody is making a cool $160 On each new house sale.

[msilagy]

I am surprised your inspector didn't go over the irrigation system. I am not there all 12 months so I prefer a courtyard villa with stone for this reason. When you are gone the landscapers run over sprinkler heads and damage occurs. This happened in my first home where I had grass. Then I bought the CYV and am very happy. I shut the irrigation system off as there is plenty of rain for the plants during the summer months. Call and they will explain the bill over the phone in full. Get that irrigation system set correctly too.

[Pbthrockm@msn.com]

What Village do you live in ?

[chrissy2231]

My amenity fee $158 up from $149. Irrigation can be lowered by reducing zone watering times. Then you will have brown areas. My mailbox 4 years ago was $100 - now no charge.

[Stu from NYC]

Given how much rain we seem to have around here in the summer months is it really necessary to keep the sprinklers turned on?

[Nucky]

We water for one hour once a week in 3 out of 4 zones and our charge per month is under $10 dollars. The lawn is perfect. I had great difficulty programming the Irrigation Timer that came with the house. It must have been the original. The number were tiny, no directions on the internet to help me so we changed to an Obits Timer $49.97

Orbit 6-Station Indoor/Outdoor Irrigation Timer
Item #309595
Model #27896 We got it at Lowes 4 years ago and anytime I need to make any adjustment its a snap. I found out that I was running the old one on several different programs and it was still operational. I was the problem. With this new Orbits, it's hard to screw it up and if you feel like you made an error you just push the reset button and start over. All the directions are easy to follow on YouTube. After the first few times, you don't even need help anymore.

I was shocked by the first bill we got but the explanation from the lady I called ironed things out and after the first bill there have been no other surprises. It was a while back so I don't have the number or name of the lady I called. They trip over themselves trying to be helpful. We are not accustomed to that from where we are from. Good Luck, your gonna be fine.

[ron32162]

PO fee is a one time fee and when selling your property it will show up again as a credit

[Topspinmo]

Didnt realize the inside was air conditioned. Good to know as we get prescription meds in the mail too, except when it is shipped by ups in styrophone containers

You don’t feel that cold blast when you open you’re mail box door? Or hear the A/c unit running beside the postal station behind the bushes?

[jfkilduff]

:shocked::

I need to look for the paperwork when I purchased the house but I remember the amenity fee being about $165.

The following is the bill I got for the period of 2 Jul to 5 Aug:

Water base 9.70
Water use 10.40
Irrigation base 8.97
Irrigation use 47.02
Sewer base 17.24
Sewer use 19.95
Amenity fee - August 313.55
Sanitation - August 37.51
PO STN FEE $190

total of 655.35
balance forward 371.38
amount due 283.97

So I am guessing that 371.38 is credit that I paid at time of sale.

My questions are what is PO STN FEE and is the Irrigation use a set price?

Is there a way to lower the irrigation use?

thank you!!

So we pay for water use then we pay to treat the water we just paid for at the sewer plant. Then we pay for the irrigation water that we just paid to be treated for at the sewer plant. Not to mention all the water we use does not go back to the sewer plant as there is no meter on the sewer side.

[janetD]

The postal fee is a one time fee on your 1st bill. I believe you may get some of it back if you sell and return your keys. Seems like your amenity fee might be for more than 1 month. Shouldn't be more than about $162. Ours is $158. Water is very expensive here so watch your irrigation use and house water. Our trash fee is only $19 just went up from $17.

[OhioBuckeye]

:shocked::

I need to look for the paperwork when I purchased the house but I remember the amenity fee being about $165.

The following is the bill I got for the period of 2 Jul to 5 Aug:

Water base 9.70
Water use 10.40
Irrigation base 8.97
Irrigation use 47.02
Sewer base 17.24
Sewer use 19.95
Amenity fee - August 313.55
Sanitation - August 37.51
PO STN FEE $190

total of 655.35
balance forward 371.38
amount due 283.97

So I am guessing that 371.38 is credit that I paid at time of sale.

My questions are what is PO STN FEE and is the Irrigation use a set price?

Is there a way to lower the irrigation use?

thank you!!

I understand that Florida water is more expensive because of the shortage of water but I agree TV is getting more expensive to live their. We move out of TV but not because of the utility bills but because of family. I know what I’ve got to say isn’t going to lower TV utility bills but it could push people out & maybe after Nov. 3rd bills will get higher. We moved to another state & I just got my biggest water bill this past month of $54.24 & I water 5 times the yard I had in TV. Also my amenities are $90.00 a month but I admit we don’t have any thing close to Recreation that TV has. Also we get Cable & High speed Internet for FREE every month, 24/7. I really miss not living in TV, but the way our country is going it’s not going to get cheaper to live anywhere, & eventually people won’t want to live there because the rising expense is going to push a lot of the less fortunate people away from TV. So don’t get discouraged TV I’m sure does their best to keep prices down. God Bless you & America!

[queasy27]

Given how much rain we seem to have around here in the summer months is it really necessary to keep the sprinklers turned on?

I leave mine off entirely during the rainy season. Lawn and shrubs are fine.

[JerseyGurl]

Same here. Got my first bill last month totaling $385. Since then I reprogrammed my irrigation schedule and times running for each section. 🙏 and fingers-crossed this next bill is a lot lower.

[Bilyclub]

No, you pay a one time fee for rekeying the mail box when you purchase a house. Being robbed. I needed to have a new key for my mailbox and the post office did it for $30. Somebody is making a cool $160 On each new house sale.

They do not rekey the box unless the old owner did not turn in the old keys. The old owner then would have to pay for the rekeying and the new owner still pays $190 for the box.

[crydzanich]

The mail station in my Village is not air conditioned. I feel sorry for those people in there.

[Stu from NYC]

The mail station in my Village is not air conditioned. I feel sorry for those people in there.

I thought they all were from what another poster wrote. Will have to look next time we go there. If no A/C what is the postage fee for?

[rogerk]

Hi why is your amenity fee $313.00? Mine is $162.00?
Your amenity fee is the $165 per month shown. The additional amenity fee covered the time between your closing and the billing date. The water usage, whether for irrigation or potable usage, is based on consumption plus a base charge. The amount of irrigation usage will be affected by the size of your lot and the amount of plants and grass and how often or for how long you run it. You control that! The base charge is a fixed monthly fee. You will also see a base charge on your electric and gas bill.

Ask you sales person or the District Office (352-753-4508 and they will connect you with the department that can explain all the details in your amenity bill. You can find answers to many questions in your Villages Phone Book starting on page 6,

[Bogie Shooter]

Wow, I wish my irrigation use was as low as yours. My yard is not very large, but I like green grass. I water twice a week and my irrigation use is around $100.00 per month. I guess the amenity fee can vary, depending on the Village you live in as mine is $155.00, but the rest of your bill seems normal, with the exception of the PO billing. That may be a one time charge. Wait until your next bill and see what it is. My total is around $300.00 every month, but a little less in cooler weather as I irrigate less during those months.

The village you live in has no effect on amenity fee.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I thought they all were from what another poster wrote. Will have to look next time we go there. If no A/C what is the postage fee for?

It's for having your own post office box in or near your neighborhood, where you can receive mail and packages securely.

As opposed to having a mailbox outside your house that can be knocked over, broken, contents stolen from without needing to break into it, etc. etc.

Granted, we're not *allowed* to take the "risks" involved in having our own mailboxes on our own property, but the question wasn't whether we were allowed. It was why we're paying for something else.

[Stu from NYC]

It's for having your own post office box in or near your neighborhood, where you can receive mail and packages securely.

As opposed to having a mailbox outside your house that can be knocked over, broken, contents stolen from without needing to break into it, etc. etc.

Granted, we're not *allowed* to take the "risks" involved in having our own mailboxes on our own property, but the question wasn't whether we were allowed. It was why we're paying for something else.

So in other words the new folks like us are paying for the upkeep.

[MandoMan]

:shocked::

I need to look for the paperwork when I purchased the house but I remember the amenity fee being about $165.

The following is the bill I got for the period of 2 Jul to 5 Aug:

Water base 9.70
Water use 10.40
Irrigation base 8.97
Irrigation use 47.02
Sewer base 17.24
Sewer use 19.95
Amenity fee - August 313.55
Sanitation - August 37.51
PO STN FEE $190

total of 655.35
balance forward 371.38
amount due 283.97

So I am guessing that 371.38 is credit that I paid at time of sale.

My questions are what is PO STN FEE and is the Irrigation use a set price?

Is there a way to lower the irrigation use?

thank you!!

Here is my most recent bill for comparison. Yours will be different next month.

[rrb48310]

No, you pay a one time fee for rekeying the mail box when you purchase a house. Being robbed. I needed to have a new key for my mailbox and the post office did it for $30. Somebody is making a cool $160 On each new house sale.

When I bought (previously owned) I paid/billed $100, that was in the paper work/deed restrictions. Then I had to go to the post office to have the mail box re-keyed, I think it was $35, and I got three keys. I don’t know why the OP’s bill was $190, unless that’s the new fee for a mail box, check your deed restrictions (not sure if it’s called deed restrictions/bylaws, name escapes me. Darn sometimers).

[Ladygolfer93]

I got two keys

That's what I got, two keys.

[PugMom]

The mail STATIONS are air conditioned and that is a huge plus for those of us who receive prescription medication in the mail.

:coolsmiley::coolsmiley:

[Kerry Azz]

I only got 1 key

[retiredguy123]

I only got 1 key
I think you got cheated. The seller should have been required to purchase a new lock from the Post Office. I would complain to the real estate agent or title company. The only way to legally get another key is to pay the Post Office $30 to install a new lock. This should have been handled at the closing.

[Ritzenthaler]

Our first bill was incorrect very high, we called and they corrected it. Suggest you do the same.

[Barborv]

Irrigation is slightly different each month. But adjust your sprinklers and also make sure none of your sprinklers are broken. The amenity fee
should only be $165. We just recently bought a house and the irrigation was over $100+, I nearly fell off my chair. My others property in TV is anywhere from 8-10 dollars. This new house is much larger, but still. When we came down to TV last month, the sprinkler was set for 50 minutes 3-4X a week. THAT GOT ADJUSTED!! Also one of the sprinkler heads were broken and when the water was on, it just poured out. Also, always be aware of leaking faucets or toilets. About 3 years ago, I got my bill and the normal $200+ bill was $600. I called my tenant and they said that the toilet was always running and then they went away for a week or two. That's why the water bill was so high. The water company did give me a one time discount. I think they reduced it about $200. That was a lesson learned.

[waltwl]

I received a bill for my imitation use for the month of July $262.85. Had my sprinkler guy check the system and he said everything is working with no leaks. I call and they came out and did a meter check. They said the meter is working correctly. Their is no way I used 55,630 gals. But what are you going to too?

[nikonuser1]

I never heard of a PO fee, but your Amenity fee is probably for more than one month, maybe because of the closing date.

[yankygrl]

:shocked::

I need to look for the paperwork when I purchased the house but I remember the amenity fee being about $165.

The following is the bill I got for the period of 2 Jul to 5 Aug:

Water base 9.70
Water use 10.40
Irrigation base 8.97
Irrigation use 47.02
Sewer base 17.24
Sewer use 19.95
Amenity fee - August 313.55
Sanitation - August 37.51
PO STN FEE $190

total of 655.35
balance forward 371.38
amount due 283.97

So I am guessing that 371.38 is credit that I paid at time of sale.

My questions are what is PO STN FEE and is the Irrigation use a set price?

Is there a way to lower the irrigation use?

thank you!!
Irrigation water is higher then potable (inside house) which is crazy as it is reclaimed. It is why you sometimes see people manually watering there lawns or using oscillating sprinkler. Outside faucets are potable water. Also if you have rain gauge they don’t always work correctly so you have to monitor. Most times the system is set up to over water.

[bill.noltecpa@gmail.com]

Your irrigation should be about 7500 to 11000 gallons per month, depending on size of your yard. If you have new plants you need to water more often until established. Recommend as a new owner , have an irrigation specialist do a maintenance check and show you the ropes on set up and timers.

[Stu from NYC]

I thought they all were from what another poster wrote. Will have to look next time we go there. If no A/C what is the postage fee for?

The postal station in Bonita does not have A/C. It does have two doors which I imagine is for safety sake in the event of a fire.

Upon further review did not think to look behind the building for a unit as another poster suggested. More research is in order.

[jlstree]

Why is the cost for a mail box $190? Is that for one year?

[Stu from NYC]

Why is the cost for a mail box $190? Is that for one year?

It is for as long as you live in your house.

Why so expensive I have no clue.

[retiredguy123]

Irrigation water is higher then potable (inside house) which is crazy as it is reclaimed. It is why you sometimes see people manually watering there lawns or using oscillating sprinkler. Outside faucets are potable water. Also if you have rain gauge they don’t always work correctly so you have to monitor. Most times the system is set up to over water.
Not true. Potable water costs more than irrigation water. You may not be including the per gallon fee for the sewer water, which is based on the same quantity as the potable water gallons used.

[Pmarlow]

The first bill includes a prorated bill for your first month as well as the second month. Ours was similar the first month but has been consistent for the last 10 months.

[nancyre]

:shocked::

I need to look for the paperwork when I purchased the house but I remember the amenity fee being about $165.

The following is the bill I got for the period of 2 Jul to 5 Aug:

Water base 9.70
Water use 10.40
Irrigation base 8.97
Irrigation use 47.02
Sewer base 17.24
Sewer use 19.95
Amenity fee - August 313.55
Sanitation - August 37.51
PO STN FEE $190

total of 655.35
balance forward 371.38
amount due 283.97

So I am guessing that 371.38 is credit that I paid at time of sale.

My questions are what is PO STN FEE and is the Irrigation use a set price?

Is there a way to lower the irrigation use?

thank you!!

Some items are balances offset at closing. It appears that the usages are about 2x my normal. My monthly bill is about $238-$250 a month. You can choose to run your sprinkler less especially in the rainy season. I would have the system checked nine is about $12-15 a month in usage. It depends on how often they run and how long and if there is a leak.