[B]What Happened to the Rollback of Our 25% Sumter Property-Tax Increase?[/B]

[Advogado]

What Happened to the Rollback of Our 25% Sumter Property-Tax Increase?

Background: Last Year's Election of the Reform Candidates Estep, Miller, and Search, Who Pledged to Roll Back the Property-Tax Increase by Increasing Impact Fees. Despite the Developer's massive spending, the fielding of fake candidates (now under criminal investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement), and lies and half-truths by the incumbents: Last November, the residents of Sumter County overwhelmingly voted out three of the Developer's five puppet Sumter Commissioners; elected the EMS team of Estep, Miller, and Search; and took control of the County Commission back from the Developer.

The EMS team was elected on the basis of their promise to roll back the obscene 25% property-tax increase. That tax increase was enacted, in 2019, by the Developer's County Commissioner puppets to pay for county infrastructure necessitated by the Developer's massive expansion of The Villages, thereby preserving the Developer's sweetheart impact fee. The EMS team specifically promised to make up for the revenue lost from rolling back that property-tax increase by increasing the Developer's sweetheart impact fee to a reasonable level. To accomplish this, all the EMS team has to do, with a majority on the Commission, is to stick together and keep their campaign promise.

An Appeal to the Newly Elected County Commissioners. I was concerned that the Developer would use all the resources at his disposal to flip one member of the EMS Team and somehow convince him to renege on his campaign promise, thereby returning control of the Commission to the Developer and killing the property-tax rollback. Consequently, in a December, I made the following appeal to Commissioners Estep, Miller, and Search:
Please do not lose sight of what you were elected to do and be taken in by the Developer’s puppets’ specious arguments. You need to rollback the 25 percent tax increase (completely if possible) and make up the lost revenue by increasing the Developer’s sweetheart impact fee– to cover not just roads but also ALL county infrastructure necessitated by the Developer’s massive expansion of The Villages. Your doing so will be your legacy. Your not doing so will let down the residents of Sumter County and destroy both your reputation and your legacy. Remember, you were not elected to be friends with the Developer or with the Developer’s remaining puppet Commissioners. What was going on at the County Commission for a number of years was political malfeasance at its worst. You were elected to clean it up, not to be nice guys.

My concern, unfortunately, was justified.

The Developer's Actions to Try to Flip One Member of the EMS Team.
(1) A Pitch to the New Commissioners by Gary Lester. I understand that:
The Developer had his Community Relations Vice President, Gary Lester, separately invite EMS team members Estep and Search to meet with him in Mr. Lester's office to try to get them to back away from their promise to roll back the property tax by increasing the sweetheart impact fee. Such a meeting would not, in itself, be improper. Mr. Lester's expecting a Commissioner to traipse over to Mr. Lester's office to have it, however, was at the very least presumptuous and indicates how he was accustomed to dealing with the Developer's puppets. Most importantly, it shows that the Developer is not going to just sit back and “allow” enactment of the property-tax reduction/impact-fee increase that the voters wanted.
>Mr. Search told Mr. Lester that he would only meet with him in his (Mr. Search's) own office and did meet with him there. At the meeting, Mr. Search had County Administrator Bradley Arnold present for both advice and as a witness. Based on Mr. Search's vote at the last Commission meeting, Mr. Lester was clearly not successful in flipping Mr. Search.
>Mr. Estep also met with Mr. Lester, but I understand that the meeting was not in the office of either one. I don't know what was said or why the meeting was not in Mr. Estep's office, which one would think would be normal.
>Apparently concluding that Mr. Miller, based on his public statements, could not be flipped, Mr. Lester never even invited Mr. Miller to Mr. Lester's office and the two have not met.
(2) A Propaganda Campaign in the Developer's Newspaper. In the Daily Sun, the Developer has launched a propaganda campaign against impact fees by publishing lies and baloney disguised as front-page news*.
(3) Packing the Last County Commission Meeting. The Developer obviously dispatched his suppliers, his Republican Party insiders, and his other minions to the last County Commission meeting to pack the room and crowd out the public. His suppliers even parked their heavy equipment in the parking lot to make it impossible for the public to park there.

A Successful Flipping of an EMS Team Member? At the last Sumter County Commission meeting, the E (Craig Estep) of the EMS team, joined the Developer's two remaining puppet Commissioners (Gilpin and Breeden) to vote to delay even consideration of the road-impact-fee plan until July. Why did Mr. Estep do this? He has had over a year to study the matter, so he clearly does not need more time, as he claims. Was it something that Gary Lester said during their meeting? I don't know, but the delay marks a major victory for the Developer.

There are hundreds of millions of dollars at stake, and the delay, alone, is putting millions of dollars in the Developer's pocket at our expense--as he continues to pay impact fees at a sweetheart rate and we continue to accrue property tax at the inflated rate. Has Mr. Estep been irreversibly flipped by the Developer? We will see in the upcoming Commission meetings. In the meantime, kudos to Commissioners Miller and Search for trying to keep their promise to voters.

A Reminder to Commissioner Estep. Voters need to contact Mr. Estep and remind him of his promise to ROLLBACK THE 25% TAX INCREASE AND TO MAKE UP THE LOST REVENUE BY ENACTING REASONABLE IMPACT FEES and insist he keep his word. That is what the County Commissioner election was all about and what Mr. Estep was elected to do.

Remember, contrary to the picture painted in the front-page “articles” in the Daily Sun, this would not be a tax increase. It would be a tax shifting in order to put the cost of paying for new county infrastructure necessitated by the Developer's massive expansion of The Villages where it belongs, which is not on the backs of the existing residents. One can certainly make the argument that the massive expansion (with its resulting traffic congestion, environmental issues, crowding, draining of our aquifer, necessity of huge expenditures on county infrastructure, etc.) is detrimental for the existing residents. In any event, why should we be subsidizing it?

But central to understanding all this is the fact that the proposed impact-fee increase/property-tax rollback will not be a net tax increase. It will be a PROPERTY-TAX CUT for existing residents and existing businesses (and for future residents and future businesses as well). All Commissioner Estep needs to do to make it happen is, at the NEXT Commission meeting, remember his campaign promise, say that he has changed his mind about delaying consideration of impact fees, and vote accordingly.


*If any reader of this piece wants to understand more about impact fees and cut through the BS that was published about them in the Daily Sun, click on: Impact Fees FAQ: What Are They, Who Pays Them and Why | Development and Taxes (https://flaglerlive.com/44763/impact-fees-faq/))

[Stu from NYC]

It would help if you published contact info on the developers puppet in training.

Perhaps he can be flipped gain

[Bogie Shooter]

:popcorn:

[Advogado]

Not a chance.

[Kenswing]

One trick pony. It's kinda like the RM guy..

[Advogado]

It would help if you published contact info on the developers puppet in training.

Perhaps he can be flipped gain

It would be more effective if voters were to talk to him personally, but contact email and phone number are here: District 3 | Sumter County, FL - Official Website (https://www.sumtercountyfl.gov/135/District-3)

[golfing eagles]

It would be more effective if voters were to talk to him personally, but contact email and phone number are here: District 3 | Sumter County, FL - Official Website (https://www.sumtercountyfl.gov/135/District-3)

Yep---I'm sure everyone here will get right on that :1rotfl: :1rotfl::1rotfl: :1rotfl:

[Advogado]

Yep---I'm sure everyone here will get right on that :1rotfl: :1rotfl::1rotfl: :1rotfl:
Everyone did get "right on" this issue in the last election and voted out the three Developer puppet Commissioners by a 2-to-1 margin. Apparently you are unconcerned about good government.

[Stu from NYC]

It would be more effective if voters were to talk to him personally, but contact email and phone number are here: District 3 | Sumter County, FL - Official Website (https://www.sumtercountyfl.gov/135/District-3)

Just sent an email reminding him why my wife and I voted for him.

[Advogado]

Just sent an email reminding him why my wife and I voted for him.

Hopefully more voters will do the same, or better yet, tell him face to face.

[New Englander]

Not everyone, since 1/3 of the voters did not. And I suppose "good" government is that government that agrees with your views. But you are slipping---it's been at least 2 posts since we've read "developer's sweetheart impact fees":1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

You gotta admit, they are real sweet!

[dewilson58]

Board of County Commissioners' Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide the most efficient, effective, and responsive government that achieves economic growth, quality customer service, and a safe community for our citizens.


Their role is to do what is best for the County, not necessarily what is best for the residents.


:popcorn:

[Happydaz]

Not everyone, since 1/3 of the voters did not. And I suppose "good" government is that government that agrees with your views. But you are slipping---it's been at least 2 posts since we've read "developer's sweetheart impact fees":1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Let me see, 1/3 is bigger than 2/3? : :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::

[golfing eagles]

Let me see, 1/3 is bigger than 2/3? : :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::

Seriously????
Everyone = 100%
2:1 = 66.67%

Which do YOU think is bigger????:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[graciegirl]

If you don’t like his posts don’t read them. I am happy he posts reminders.

We still have the freedom to disagree with his opinion. I have been disagreeing with many of the opinions from Avocado for many years. I don't think the developer is doing anything but running a business in such a way that all of our properties here are much more solid than other property in this strange financial world now being dallied with by the young.

I do have advice of my own;.....Stay safe, stay away from those who run around close to others without a mask. No matter what they say about that virus...It's a killer.

[JP]

I think these two "new commissioners" were elected on false promises and now their "real" intent has been exposed and they are going to not be so popular.

[dewilson58]

I think these two "new commissioners" were elected on false promises and now their "real" intent has been exposed and they are going to not be so popular.


I'm not sure if it was false promises or ignorance (they thought they could reverse the 25%).


Either way, the voters were ignorant to vote based on a promise with no funding plan.

[Advogado]

I'm not sure if it was false promises or ignorance (they thought they could reverse the 25%).


Either way, the voters were ignorant to vote based on a promise with no funding plan.
You are mistaken. There was, and is, a definite funding plan:
>End the sweetheart impact fee,
>Impose reasonable impact fees to cover new county infrastructure resulting from development, and
>Roll back the property-tax increase in an amount equivalent to the increased revenue from impact fees.

The EMS team made that very clear when they were running for office. The Developer seems to have been effective in at least stalling the implementation of that plan, as I explained in my original post. Hopefully, the Developer will not be successful in killing it, thereby making permanent our 25% property-tax increase-- which I gather you are entirely in favor of.

[Advogado]

We still have the freedom to disagree with his opinion. I have been disagreeing with many of the opinions from Avocado for many years. I don't think the developer is doing anything but running a business in such a way that all of our properties here are much more solid than other property in this strange financial world now being dallied with by the young.

I do have advice of my own;.....Stay safe, stay away from those who run around close to others without a mask. No matter what they say about that virus...It's a killer.

So, you are in favor of the Developer's Commissioners increasing your property tax by 25% while preserving the Developer's sweetheart impact fee? If so, your position is logical; otherwise, it is not.

I don't begrudge the Developer's making tons of money. He just shouldn't be doing it at taxpayer expense.

[dewilson58]

>Impose reasonable impact fees to cover new county infrastructure resulting from development, and
>Roll back the property-tax increase in an amount equivalent to the increased revenue from impact fees..
(see if you have learned anything from other threads)


And how much is the "reasonable impact fee" according to EMS plan??

[dewilson58]

>Impose reasonable impact fees


Come on back.............The EMS ran on reversing the entire 25% increase. What was the proposed "reasonable impact fee" to cover the reversal of the 25% increase contained in "the plan" ???
:pray:

[JoMar]

(see if you have learned anything from other threads)


And how much is the "reasonable impact fee" according to EMS plan??

As I stated before, I am not in favor of higher impact fees that will slow growth and stop commercial development and have made that clear to the Commissioners (as have many others who can see the larger picture). As with all that run for office, make promises you can't keep and once you learn what your promises will do run as fast as you can. The new wannabe "puppeteers and minions and whatever else you want to label the supporters of the triad" will find that the responsibility of the Commissioners is to grow the economy of the County, keep it's residents safe and promote growth to increase revenue. That will be against the selfish motivation of those that voted them in and now believe the triad should be their puppets.

[Advogado]

As I stated before, I am not in favor of higher impact fees that will slow growth and stop commercial development and have made that clear to the Commissioners (as have many others who can see the larger picture). As with all that run for office, make promises you can't keep and once you learn what your promises will do run as fast as you can. The new wannabe "puppeteers and minions and whatever else you want to label the supporters of the triad" will find that the responsibility of the Commissioners is to grow the economy of the County, keep it's residents safe and promote growth to increase revenue. That will be against the selfish motivation of those that voted them in and now believe the triad should be their puppets.

Two thirds of the voters in Sumter County think you are wrong, and they voted accordingly. Reasonable impact fees will not stop growth. Click on the Flagler County link in my original post.

What has been going on in Sumter County is the Developer offloading on to the current residents infrastructure costs that should be the Developer's. This whole matter should have been decided in the last election. Now, for some reason, Mr. Estep has voted to defer doing what he promised to-- reneging on his campaign promise and disappointing the voters who believed him.

[Advogado]

Come on back.............The EMS ran on reversing the entire 25% increase. What was the proposed "reasonable impact fee" to cover the reversal of the 25% increase contained in "the plan" ???
:pray:
An impact fee study is necessary. As you should know, nobody has exact numbers at this point.

[JoMar]

Two thirds of the voters in Sumter County think you are wrong, and they voted accordingly. Reasonable impact fees will not stop growth. Click on the Flagler County link in my original post.

What has been going on in Sumter County is the Developer offloading on to the current residents infrastructure costs that should be the Developer's. This whole matter should have been decided in the last election. Now, for some reason, Mr. Estep has voted to defer doing what he promised to-- reneging on his campaign promise and disappointing the voters who believed him.

I really don't care.....I know what will happen. Been there, have the tee shirt. The 2/3 you speak of voted emotionally and now they want to control the triad (puppeteers). Now that the triad is learning what the requirements are I hope they have the intestinal fortitude to do what's right for the County and not pander to those that are trying to make them dance to their tune.

[Stu from NYC]

I sent an email to Mr E and he wrote back to me explaining his reasoning.

Still trying to come to grips with what he said and decide if it makes sense or not.

[Bogie Shooter]

I sent an email to Mr E and he wrote back to me explaining his reasoning.

Still trying to come to grips with what he said and decide if it makes sense or not.

To much common sense?

[Happydaz]

4,177. 6,244. 6,657. 6,914. 14,789. 38,780. (Listed is the number of posts.)

Interesting to see that all the very high posters on this thread favored the developer and keeping the low impact fees as they are. Those who support raising the impact fees have lower posting counts. Is there a professional group of posters on this site who dominate others with their torrent of posts? Does a small group of posters represent the voters of Sumter County?

[kappy]

What is the cause of the additional costs to Sumter County? Obviously, the expansion of The Villages below Rt. 44. If that is the case, why is Sumter County asking all the homeowners and businesses north of Rt. 44 to pay for those costs? These additional costs for Sumter County should logically be paid for by impact fees. That is the purpose of impact fees. If the impact fees for building a house in The Villages goes up by $1458, The Villages will continue to be the #1 growing adult community in the country as it has been for the past 11 years. Yes, #1 in the country. Of course, businesses will continue to flock to Sumter County just because of all this population increase. So why has Commissioner Estep decided to jump ship? Was there a meeting that caused this? It is time for Commissioner Estep to explain why he is no longer honoring his campaign pledge and abandoning the two other members of the EMS team. Send Commissioner Estep an email at craig.estep@sumtercountyfl.gov and ask him to explain why he is now going against all the voters who put him in office. After all, a man is only as good as his word.

[tophcfa]

I sent an email to Mr E and he wrote back to me explaining his reasoning.

Still trying to come to grips with what he said and decide if it makes sense or not.

Can you share the response so others can make their own interpretation of it?

[rmd2]

It would be more effective if voters were to talk to him personally, but contact email and phone number are here: District 3 | Sumter County, FL - Official Website (https://www.sumtercountyfl.gov/135/District-3)

I e-mailed them and one of them (I think Search) said "They were too busy with other matters." I reminded him of the tax issue that they campaigned on but I guess they are too busy "with other matters". Personally disgusted.

[J1ceasar]

The funding plan is simple roll back real estate taxes and increase infrastructure tax

[J1ceasar]

And roll back the ridiculous spending increases they had on the budget by the way it was $50 million

[dewilson58]

The funding plan is simple roll back real estate taxes and increase infrastructure tax
Did you do the math??? To replace $50mil annual increase, the impact fee would have to be ~$25,000 per house. :ohdear:

[dewilson58]

An impact fee study is necessary. As you should know, nobody has exact numbers at this point.
For what EMS ran on (and what you're preaching) a study is NOT necessary. EMS & you are stating 'reverse the 25% and increase impact fee'. Simple math, it would take an impact fee of ~$25,000 per new home to cover the loss of the additional $50,000,000 generated by the 25% increase. :1rotfl: And you voted for that. :1rotfl:

[dewilson58]

4,177. 6,244. 6,657. 6,914. 14,789. 38,780. (Listed is the number of posts.)

Interesting to see that all the very high posters on this thread favored the developer and keeping the low impact fees as they are. Those who support raising the impact fees have lower posting counts. Is there a professional group of posters on this site who dominate others with their torrent of posts? Does a small group of posters represent the voters of Sumter County?
No, maybe the higher posters are jus smarter. :MOJE_whot::MOJE_whot::MOJE_whot:
I can't speak for the high posters, but as far as I'm concerned, I'm not in favor of, "keeping the low impact fees as they are".

Happy Day.

[Ken D.]

People need to be concise, or lose one’s interest quickly.

[jbrown132]

As I stated before, I am not in favor of higher impact fees that will slow growth and stop commercial development and have made that clear to the Commissioners (as have many others who can see the larger picture). As with all that run for office, make promises you can't keep and once you learn what your promises will do run as fast as you can. The new wannabe "puppeteers and minions and whatever else you want to label the supporters of the triad" will find that the responsibility of the Commissioners is to grow the economy of the County, keep it's residents safe and promote growth to increase revenue. That will be against the selfish motivation of those that voted them in and now believe the triad should be their puppets.

This is what I know from viewing this with my own eyes. Prior to the 25% increase the Developer was building at fever pitch rate. Businesses were being built all over the place, so without the 25% everything was pretty much as it had been. Nothing appeared to have slowed things down and there was no shortfall of money in Sumter County as the tax base was continually increasing. My only thought is the Developer needed the extra revenue not for infrastructure but to continue to buy large swathes of land for future development and have the taxpayer pay for it. Maybe all wrong but just my thought on the matter.

[Annie66]

I have sent Mr. Estep an email asking him to lay out the background and his current thinking on the impact fee and property taxes. I requested he make it a personal statement to all of his constituents to help clear the air. I hope he takes the time to lay out the background and the balancing of priorities allowing a rollback of some or all of the 25% tax increase. We'll see if he comes through with my request.

[Barb.callow]

Me, too! 🦩

[fastboat]

Proving once again that the developer didn't really have to flip 3 commissioners, just one. And it was so much cheaper than buying all 3 new ones.

[Dond1959]

I read all the comments. If you think tax dollars are funding a private developers purchase of land, all I can say is wow.:1rotfl::1rotfl:

For those saying roll back the entire 25% read Wilson’s comment. It is not happening.

For those who say the 25% increase only helped those south of 44, did you have a memory lapse and not remember Morse and Buena Vista being repaved or the additional police and fire protection?

If you increase the impact fee 100% or 150% (to the max allowed by state law) you will slow down ALL growth, not just the developer, and that will have an impact on ALL of residents in the county. If you want to be Thelma and Louise and drive off the cliff, go ahead.

You put in at least two commissioners who ran as republicans but were truly democrats. At least the third had the brain to slow the car down before it heads off the cliff.

There are basic economic principles going on and saying it will have no impact is just not sound economics. Don’t believe me, how about listening to all the business leaders including the CEO of UF health.

We got a pretty good thing going here in the county, but if you want the cliff awaits.

[Kgcetm]

Thank you.

[donassaid]

Very well laid out and right on the money.

[merrymini]

These new people were voted in to break a preconceived cycle of control. You elect new people based on their ideal public positions. When they arrive, they obviously have to deal with reality. I did not realize that two of the three were democrats before running as republicans. If residents are alarmed at a 25 percent increase, why wouldn’t others impacted not be alarmed at a 100 percent increase? Politicians proving, on a continuous basis that they are dirtbags on a national and local level.

[JP]

People voted in those new commissioners because they didn't want a tax increase(ignoring the fact that taxes had not been raised for 14 YEARS!!!). That's somewhat logical. What they didn't realize was the consequences of not having that particular tax increase was going to cause other unwanted tax increases that will stymie business and county development. Most people don't really think beyond "I don't want MY taxes going up 25%". Sad and shortsighted.

[kappy]

Please explain to me how a $1458 increase in the impact fee for all new homes in The Villages would slow down growth. The Daily Sun had an article several weeks ago about The Villages being the #1 fastest growing adult community in the country. If the developer passed on that increase to all new buyers, do you believe that The Villages would not continue to sell homes at the pace they have previously? If you do, I have a bridge to sell you. With the increased population every year, comes the increase in the businesses. Do you have any proof that increasing the impact fees to 100%, where they should have been in the first place, would have any detrimental effect on the continued Sumter County growth? OR, are you just making assumptions? If the three new Commissioners each honored their pledge to increase the impact fees and roll back the 25% tax increase, in a year or two we would know if there were any slow down in growth. At that time, adjustments could be made. I’m betting that there would be no slow down and we all would be happy living in Florida’s Friendliest Home Town.

I believe that the developer has done a wonderful job in building The Villages. I tell all my friends up north, that there is no better place to retire than here. I also do not object to the expansion. I just feel that there should be fairness in how the costs for this expansion should be paid. That is the purpose of impact fees, just look up the definition.

[Stu from NYC]

I have sent Mr. Estep an email asking him to lay out the background and his current thinking on the impact fee and property taxes. I requested he make it a personal statement to all of his constituents to help clear the air. I hope he takes the time to lay out the background and the balancing of priorities allowing a rollback of some or all of the 25% tax increase. We'll see if he comes through with my request.

I asked him this question and yesterday he sent me his response. Thought about posting it here and after some time decided there was nothing wrong with doing so.

I will keep my thoughts of this to myself for now but do welcome comments.

Dear Stu and Sheila

Thank you for your email. My platform is still to represent you fairly. I am more than happy to share what I am taking into consideration with regards to impact fees. First and foremost, my position has not changed. The 25.5 % increase put some of our taxpayers in distress, and I am working to try and help alleviate that. With regards to impact fees and the adjustments thereof, there are 71 line items regarding those fees. They include such people as newlyweds that would like to build a house, and industrial businesses that may or may not want to locate here and hire local workers if the fees are too high for them to do so. Generally speaking they cover residential, retail, medical, institutions, office, services, and industrial. So you can see there are a lot of people affected, both in the employer as well as the employee sides of the house. My greatest concern is to make sure we get the best possible outcome for the taxpayer, without hurting our taxpayers in this county that may be negatively affected by a too aggressive increase. I am working diligently to identify where in our 76 or so revenue streams available to us the best methodology to relief the pressure on our taxpayers. It may take me some time to do it, but my goal is to have it back where it was prior to the large increase. Please remember, impact fees are only one of those 76 streams, and yes…Covid-19 has taken a toll on some of those revenue streams as well. Thank you for your email and have a great day…Craig










Craig Estep
County Commissioner District 3

[Two Bills]

I asked him this question and yesterday he sent me his response. Thought about posting it here and after some time decided there was nothing wrong with doing so.

I will keep my thoughts of this to myself for now but do welcome comments.

Dear Stu and Sheila

Thank you for your email. My platform is still to represent you fairly. I am more than happy to share what I am taking into consideration with regards to impact fees. First and foremost, my position has not changed. The 25.5 % increase put some of our taxpayers in distress, and I am working to try and help alleviate that. With regards to impact fees and the adjustments thereof, there are 71 line items regarding those fees. They include such people as newlyweds that would like to build a house, and industrial businesses that may or may not want to locate here and hire local workers if the fees are too high for them to do so. Generally speaking they cover residential, retail, medical, institutions, office, services, and industrial. So you can see there are a lot of people affected, both in the employer as well as the employee sides of the house. My greatest concern is to make sure we get the best possible outcome for the taxpayer, without hurting our taxpayers in this county that may be negatively affected by a too aggressive increase. I am working diligently to identify where in our 76 or so revenue streams available to us the best methodology to relief the pressure on our taxpayers. It may take me some time to do it, but my goal is to have it back where it was prior to the large increase. Please remember, impact fees are only one of those 76 streams, and yes…Covid-19 has taken a toll on some of those revenue streams as well. Thank you for your email and have a great day…Craig
Craig Estep
County Commissioner District 3

A reply worthy of any government official, that states nothing, can be interpreted in many ways, and paves the way to change direction at any time.
Brilliant!

[dewilson58]

Please explain to me how a $1458 increase in the impact fee for all new homes in The Villages would slow down growth.


If the three new Commissioners each honored their pledge to increase the impact fees and roll back the 25% tax increase, in a year or two we would know if there were any slow down in growth. .

A $1500 increase will not slow TV growth. BUT you can not roll-back the 25% based on a $1500 increase. To roll-back (reverse) the 25% increase, the impact fee would have to be well over $20,000.:ho:

[dewilson58]

A reply worthy of any government official, that states nothing, can be interpreted in many ways, and paves the way to change direction at any time.Brilliant!
Agree.
Save the reply for the next TP shortage. :MOJE_whot:

[rogerk]

Who would get the biggest benefit from a Property tax roll back? Who is the largest property owner in Sumter County? The developer!

[heenables]

I asked him this question and yesterday he sent me his response. Thought about posting it here and after some time decided there was nothing wrong with doing so.

I will keep my thoughts of this to myself for now but do welcome comments.

Dear Stu and Sheila

Thank you for your email. My platform is still to represent you fairly. I am more than happy to share what I am taking into consideration with regards to impact fees. First and foremost, my position has not changed. The 25.5 % increase put some of our taxpayers in distress, and I am working to try and help alleviate that. With regards to impact fees and the adjustments thereof, there are 71 line items regarding those fees. They include such people as newlyweds that would like to build a house, and industrial businesses that may or may not want to locate here and hire local workers if the fees are too high for them to do so. Generally speaking they cover residential, retail, medical, institutions, office, services, and industrial. So you can see there are a lot of people affected, both in the employer as well as the employee sides of the house. My greatest concern is to make sure we get the best possible outcome for the taxpayer, without hurting our taxpayers in this county that may be negatively affected by a too aggressive increase. I am working diligently to identify where in our 76 or so revenue streams available to us the best methodology to relief the pressure on our taxpayers. It may take me some time to do it, but my goal is to have it back where it was prior to the large increase. Please remember, impact fees are only one of those 76 streams, and yes…Covid-19 has taken a toll on some of those revenue streams as well. Thank you for your email and have a great day…Craig










Craig Estep
County Commissioner District 3


I think this is a great answer. Seems like most of you think you understand the complexities of what needs to be done. It looks to me like Craig is stating that he is figuring out how to do what they said through various avenues. Did you expect something to change overnight? The good part is that most people here can keep running their keyboard mouths while these 3 figure out how to do what they said.

[Stu from NYC]

I think this is a great answer. Seems like most of you think you understand the complexities of what needs to be done. It looks to me like Craig is stating that he is figuring out how to do what they said through various avenues. Did you expect something to change overnight? The good part is that most people here can keep running their keyboard mouths while these 3 figure out how to do what they said.

There are numerous ways to interpret what he wrote.

One is what you said. The other is he was bought by the developer.

I am not sure but time will tell.

[PugMom]

either way, Stu, thx for posting his reply

[claylayer]

I don’t understand why a community would jeopardize all of this growth and job security to save $300-$600 per year per home. I’m new here so I am probably missing some parts of this puzzle

[sloanst]

:ohdear:

[Worldseries27]

Over lunch at a 5 star restaurant the developer , county officials, current and new home owners are having an amicable discussion over the current financial situations facing them all. Before the luncheon bill is presented the developer and county officials excuse themselves and say they'll be right back. A glance out the window reveals them peeling out of the parking lot tires smoking .

[drrichard]

AMAZING COINCIDENCE - Word for word, EXACTLY the same reply I got from Estep!!

I asked him this question and yesterday he sent me his response. Thought about posting it here and after some time decided there was nothing wrong with doing so.

I will keep my thoughts of this to myself for now but do welcome comments.

Dear Stu and Sheila

Thank you for your email. My platform is still to represent you fairly. I am more than happy to share what I am taking into consideration with regards to impact fees. First and foremost, my position has not changed. The 25.5 % increase put some of our taxpayers in distress, and I am working to try and help alleviate that. With regards to impact fees and the adjustments thereof, there are 71 line items regarding those fees. They include such people as newlyweds that would like to build a house, and industrial businesses that may or may not want to locate here and hire local workers if the fees are too high for them to do so. Generally speaking they cover residential, retail, medical, institutions, office, services, and industrial. So you can see there are a lot of people affected, both in the employer as well as the employee sides of the house. My greatest concern is to make sure we get the best possible outcome for the taxpayer, without hurting our taxpayers in this county that may be negatively affected by a too aggressive increase. I am working diligently to identify where in our 76 or so revenue streams available to us the best methodology to relief the pressure on our taxpayers. It may take me some time to do it, but my goal is to have it back where it was prior to the large increase. Please remember, impact fees are only one of those 76 streams, and yes…Covid-19 has taken a toll on some of those revenue streams as well. Thank you for your email and have a great day…Craig










Craig Estep
County Commissioner District 3

[Kenswing]

Over lunch at a 5 star restaurant the developer , county officials, current and new home owners are having an amicable discussion over the current financial situations facing them all. Before the luncheon bill is presented the developer and county officials excuse themselves and say they'll be right back. A glance out the window reveals them peeling out of the parking lot tires smoking .
We all know this is a lie.. There are no 5-star restaurants anywhere near The Villages.. :1rotfl:

[Number 10 GI]

When I was a young private in the Army I definitely had opinions about senior leadership and how things should work. After I became a senior leader I found out how difficult it was to effect change in the system. A senior NCO or even a full Colonel only had limited power to change policy. I found out as a senior NCO the view dramatically changed when you were looking out instead of inward with limited knowledge of the workings of the system.
I would wager to say that none of the critics of the county government have even seen the budget for the county and know where the tax monies are spent. The overall budget doesn't tell you much, you need to see the individual budgets for the different departments. Is there waste, of course there is, and it should be dealt with but to just make blanket statements about what to do without this information is foolish. So far all I've read on this topic through 10 million posts is that no one has an informed idea on what is happening or what to do. It's all opinion that is not based on any thorough understanding of the cost to run the county.

[Worldseries27]

when i was a young private in the army i definitely had opinions about senior leadership and how things should work. After i became a senior leader i found out how difficult it was to effect change in the system. A senior nco or even a full colonel only had limited power to change policy. I found out as a senior nco the view dramatically changed when you were looking out instead of inward with limited knowledge of the workings of the system.
I would wager to say that none of the critics of the county government have even seen the budget for the county and know where the tax monies are spent. The overall budget doesn't tell you much, you need to see the individual budgets for the different departments. Is there waste, of course there is, and it should be dealt with but to just make blanket statements about what to do without this information is foolish. So far all i've read on this topic through 10 million posts is that no one has an informed idea on what is happening or what to do. It's all opinion that is not based on any thorough understanding of the cost to run the county.
report!!?

Suh!

S.n.a.f.u.

Dismissed!!

Yes suh!

[CWGUY]

There are numerous ways to interpret what he wrote.

One is what you said. The other is he was bought by the developer.

I am not sure but time will tell.

I'm starting to figure it out..... in a post not to long ago, you asked "who owns Sheriff Farmer" and now you insinuate maybe a newly elected County Commissioner was possibly "bought"

My conclusion...... IMHO you can take guy out of NYC, but you can't take the NYC out of the guy!

Sometimes I am embarrassed to say "I am from N.Y." People from the city say "New York" and a lot of us others say "Up state New York"...... 2 different worlds. :icon_wink:

Like I have said before I've lived here for over 17 years and my taxes are less now than when we first arrived. :clap2: Someone at the County level has been doing something right! Another thing nobody seems to mention is that the Developers and their companies are probably the biggest tax payer in Sumter County. :popcorn:

[Stu from NYC]

AMAZING COINCIDENCE - Word for word, EXACTLY the same reply I got from Estep!!

Didnt think he wrote the answer just for me. That is why I put it on here

[bobnyce]

(see if you have learned anything from other threads)


And how much is the "reasonable impact fee" according to EMS plan??

It is very simple. The cost of the Impact for roads, schools, traffic, extra police etc. are all estimated based upon the "Impact" of the new building whether residential or commercial. Someone knows what that costs.

Impact Fees should be set for each home, in the case of residential, to pay for the new infrastructure and then the property taxes from the new homes should pay for the ongoing maintenance.

The estimated amount of impact is what the Sumter Commissioners borrowed. Whatever the cost of that annual repayment should now be covered by future impact fees and then reduce taxes by an equal amount of the new impact fees each year!

Someone has to pay the bill for all the new infrastructure. Should it be the current residents or the new residents as part of the price of their new home.

The developer never pays anything they add it to the upfront price of the product, in this case each home sold. And, the developer has no problem adding a bond to the home to pay for those improvements made but the county should raise that money on the backs of all residents!

So, everyone calm down. This can all be calculated by qualified people. The only question is who pays the bill. As in every case it is the consumer and taxpayer and most of the time they are the same person.

[Stu from NYC]

I'm starting to figure it out..... in a post not to long ago, you asked "who owns Sheriff Farmer" and now you insinuate maybe a newly elected County Commissioner was possibly "bought"

My conclusion...... IMHO you can take guy out of NYC, but you can't take the NYC out of the guy!

Sometimes I am embarrassed to say "I am from N.Y." People from the city say "New York" and a lot of us others say "Up state New York"...... 2 different worlds. :icon_wink:

Like I have said before I've lived here for over 17 years and my taxes are less now than when we first arrived. :clap2: Someone at the County level has been doing something right! Another thing nobody seems to mention is that the Developers and their companies are probably the biggest tax payer in Sumter County. :popcorn:

If you recall I reconsidered my comment about Sheriff Farmer and than took it down. I do not think he should be involved with politics and he went out of his way to endorse the former commissioners.

Now I am not sure about the intentions of Mr Estrep and voiced my opinion to him. What he wrote back to me and others can be taken several ways and time will tell what will happen.

IMHO I think the developer got himself a sweetheart deal on the backs of the residents of the county.

I am entitled to my opinion and you are entitled to yours. Have no idea what being from NYC has to do with it.

[Pairadocs]

Yep---I'm sure everyone here will get right on that :1rotfl: :1rotfl::1rotfl: :1rotfl:

I understand your cynicism, "me too", but, maybe, just maybe (?) if the people, the huddled masses who only count when their votes are coveted, would unite and see if democracy can once again work; that we elect those who have offered to go to an office to be OUR representative, not to find a life long career ? Just saying maybe when the masses have too long been the doormat, it teaches others who really do not have a servant's heart, that politics is an idea position and the only necessary skill is to control and manipulate people psychologically. We "could" turn this around, maybe even around the whole country ? Make party affiliation less a variable when we vote, and maybe character, past behavior, etc. more important ? How many people know that our forefathers looked for candidates who were willing to make sacrifices ? Men left their farms, they gave up their trades or small businesses, often their families suffered for this too, they had less income with the husband off to the congress, the wife and children could not make as much income as when the husband was there, but they understood that it was primary to keep a democracy that honest people serve, even if it was going to be a personal and financial sacrifice. Just some thoughts that begin here with our grassroots situation. In a "normal" town, we'd have a mayor, a council, but this is what we have, but that does not mean be doormats ?

[jjombrello]

I think this is just a lot of p'ing and m'ing. My taxes are lower now (20020) than what they were in from 1999 thru 2006. I've enjoyed years of taxes being reduced because of good choices by our county board. Remember these people are county commissioners and what's good for the county is good for TV. Just look at how this poor county has prospered and grown over the last 20 to 30 years.

[Pairadocs]

Everyone did get "right on" this issue in the last election and voted out the three Developer puppet Commissioners by a 2-to-1 margin. Apparently you are unconcerned about good government.

"Good government", (if you mean honest, moral men and women, who have enough self-esteem that they don't need to boost their egos by becoming wealthy, or by "knowing & socializing" with the right people, to make them feel better about who they are) is hard to find these days everywhere. I would guess 85% of the people we socialize with never lift a finger to find out all the details, past judgments, moral behaviors, etc. of even local judges before they go to the poles anywhere and just mark "retain, retain, retain". Must be getting old, people honestly do not care ! Hard to believe, we have such a precious, fragile thing in our democracy. Why, how does this happen ? Education ? Is it because we don't emphasize history and really explain how difficult it is for a people/country to retain it ? My teachers in ALL grades nearly "beat" it into our heads how many people have give up their lives rather than let any aspect of other forms of government insidiously creep in ! We used to color pictures (made on the "ditto", the purple passion machine, anyone remember those ?) of the flag raising on Iwo Jima , of ALL the D.C. monuments and there were lessons on them every year; veteran's day, flag day, Constitution day, Independence day, Memorial day, and all the rest. Our upper elementary grand children have only heard of a couple of them, and know very little of why we even have them. They love fireworks.... just glad it happens each year is all.

[Pairadocs]

This is what I know from viewing this with my own eyes. Prior to the 25% increase the Developer was building at fever pitch rate. Businesses were being built all over the place, so without the 25% everything was pretty much as it had been. Nothing appeared to have slowed things down and there was no shortfall of money in Sumter County as the tax base was continually increasing. My only thought is the Developer needed the extra revenue not for infrastructure but to continue to buy large swathes of land for future development and have the taxpayer pay for it. Maybe all wrong but just my thought on the matter.


Well, of course your thoughts "could" be incorrect, but they are a logical, rational, conclusion ! Better than so much of he wild speculation people sometimes claim to have, and leave the rest who read it to try to figure out how a series of logical happenings lead to their conclusion. Just emotion ? Maybe logic, research, and debate are no longer taught in our public school system ? Maybe the residents of any community don't even bother to construct the curriculum that is right for their local schools any these days ? Don't even think of it as one of their very important liberties, one designated as their/our duty, to determine what is taught and how it is to be taught in our schools. I knew when all of us kids in the neighborhood would get to go to our grandma's .....NO parents missed school board night !

[Pairadocs]

A reply worthy of any government official, that states nothing, can be interpreted in many ways, and paves the way to change direction at any time.
Brilliant!

You've made an outstanding analysis of Political "hogwash", sounds beautiful, intelligent, educated, and sincere.... he who masters this kind of smooth, impressive rhetoric, manages to be completely vague, yet sound "very academic and dedicated", it's a gift, YOU say it's "brilliant", I agree, I'd add it's also MASTERFUL. I seldom see people who recognize what you have and called it to task ! Good for you ! :coolsmiley:

[Pairadocs]

I'm not sure if it was false promises or ignorance (they thought they could reverse the 25%).


Either way, the voters were ignorant to vote based on a promise with no funding plan.

Oh so correct on that one ! Right on !

[Velvet]

I think this is just a lot of p'ing and m'ing. My taxes are lower now (20020) than what they were in from 1999 thru 2006. I've enjoyed years of taxes being reduced because of good choices by our county board. Remember these people are county commissioners and what's good for the county is good for TV. Just look at how this poor county has prospered and grown over the last 20 to 30 years.

Seriously? You mean you got your 25% increase from last year reimbursed? I didn’t. Or you are not in Sumter county in the first place.

[CWGUY]

Seriously? You mean you got your 25% increase from last year reimbursed? I didn’t. Or you are not in Sumter county in the first place.

:ohdear: Nobody said reimbursed but you. This poster is like me and been here awhile. 2 minutes ago I looked up my 2006 (as far back as you can go online) and compared them to my (2020) last tax bill. Amount paid to Sumter Co. for property taxes and amount in school taxes both lower last bill. Millage Rate lower and assessment higher. I'm a happy camper!

:bigbow: Thank you Sumter Co. Leadership during those years.

[Stu from NYC]

:ohdear: Nobody said reimbursed but you. This poster is like me and been here awhile. 2 minutes ago I looked up my 2006 (as far back as you can go online) and compared them to my (2020) last tax bill. Amount paid to Sumter Co. for property taxes and amount in school taxes both lower last bill. Millage Rate lower and assessment higher. I'm a happy camper!

:bigbow: Thank you Sumter Co. Leadership during those years.

Consider that this is not the same county as it was back in 2006. The county has grown tremendously and has had a huge influx of revenue.

As a result of good fiscal management while in the middle of a boom they were able to reduce taxes by a bit each year and kudos to the commissioners.

The problem is the developer has now realized that they can increase their profit margin by passing on costs to the residents of the county.

Good for them but not quite as good to the rest of us.

I still believe their is a happy medium for all but allowing taxes to be further reduced by some percentage.

[JoMar]

Consider that this is not the same county as it was back in 2006. The county has grown tremendously and has had a huge influx of revenue.

As a result of good fiscal management while in the middle of a boom they were able to reduce taxes by a bit each year and kudos to the commissioners.

The problem is the developer has now realized that they can increase their profit margin by passing on costs to the residents of the county.

Good for them but not quite as good to the rest of us.

I still believe their is a happy medium for all but allowing taxes to be further reduced by some percentage.

Could you explain that one? I didn't know the Developer was a taxing authority.....thought that was the County.

[golfing eagles]

Consider that this is not the same county as it was back in 2006. The county has grown tremendously and has had a huge influx of revenue.

As a result of good fiscal management while in the middle of a boom they were able to reduce taxes by a bit each year and kudos to the commissioners.

The problem is the developer has now realized that they can increase their profit margin by passing on costs to the residents of the county.

Good for them but not quite as good to the rest of us.

I still believe their is a happy medium for all but allowing taxes to be further reduced by some percentage.

They will either pass them on to the taxpayers, or pass them on to new homeowners. They are NEVER eat the cost themselves.

The most prolific poster on this subject calls it "the developer's sweetheart impact fee deal", but in reality it is the new homeowner's sweetheart deal. The impact costs will be paid, either by those that create them (new buyers), or by the general taxpayer. This prolific poster is dead set against the latter, but incorrect in arguing that the "developer" will have to pay the impact fee---they won't.

So to carry it a step further, he objects to his tax dollar going to pay for the costs a new homeowner incurs. Fine, it is a reasonable argument. However, I have never set foot in a Sumter County library and never will, so why should I pay for that? I have no children in school, and never did in Sumter County---why should I pay school tax??? I have no intention of having a fire in my home, but if I do at some point require the services of the fire dept., I'd be happy to pay for them on a fee for service basis. I have no use for a single woman that has 6 children by 6 different fathers before age 22----why should I pay to support her???

The answer is that all those things contribute to the common good. Educating children is in the best interest of everyone, not just parents. Maintaining a library benefits all, even if an individual doesn't use it himself. Having 6 kids with no mother or father benefits nobody. So, as a society we agree to support programs and institutions that benefit only some of us directly.

When thousands of new homes are built, "the developer" benefits from the sales profit. The county workforce benefits from all the construction jobs and landscaping jobs. The tax base is expanded which eventually translates to lower tax rate, as it has in the past. The increase in population attracts retailers and hence more jobs and more choice (as long as impact fees don't drive them away)

[Velvet]

:ohdear: Nobody said reimbursed but you. This poster is like me and been here awhile. 2 minutes ago I looked up my 2006 (as far back as you can go online) and compared them to my (2020) last tax bill. Amount paid to Sumter Co. for property taxes and amount in school taxes both lower last bill. Millage Rate lower and assessment higher. I'm a happy camper!

:bigbow: Thank you Sumter Co. Leadership during those years.

Must have misread the post. I really thought he meant the current property tax was lower than in 2018.

[CWGUY]

Must have misread the post. I really thought he meant the current property tax was lower than in 2018.

Must have...... that wasn't even close to what he said. :icon_wink:

[Fenster]

What Happened to the Rollback of Our 25% Sumter Property-Tax Increase?

Background: Last Year's Election of the Reform Candidates Estep, Miller, and Search, Who Pledged to Roll Back the Property-Tax Increase by Increasing Impact Fees. Despite the Developer's massive spending, the fielding of fake candidates (now under criminal investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement), and lies and half-truths by the incumbents: Last November, the residents of Sumter County overwhelmingly voted out three of the Developer's five puppet Sumter Commissioners; elected the EMS team of Estep, Miller, and Search; and took control of the County Commission back from the Developer.

The EMS team was elected on the basis of their promise to roll back the obscene 25% property-tax increase. That tax increase was enacted, in 2019, by the Developer's County Commissioner puppets to pay for county infrastructure necessitated by the Developer's massive expansion of The Villages, thereby preserving the Developer's sweetheart impact fee. The EMS team specifically promised to make up for the revenue lost from rolling back that property-tax increase by increasing the Developer's sweetheart impact fee to a reasonable level. To accomplish this, all the EMS team has to do, with a majority on the Commission, is to stick together and keep their campaign promise.

An Appeal to the Newly Elected County Commissioners. I was concerned that the Developer would use all the resources at his disposal to flip one member of the EMS Team and somehow convince him to renege on his campaign promise, thereby returning control of the Commission to the Developer and killing the property-tax rollback. Consequently, in a December, I made the following appeal to Commissioners Estep, Miller, and Search:
Please do not lose sight of what you were elected to do and be taken in by the Developer’s puppets’ specious arguments. You need to rollback the 25 percent tax increase (completely if possible) and make up the lost revenue by increasing the Developer’s sweetheart impact fee– to cover not just roads but also ALL county infrastructure necessitated by the Developer’s massive expansion of The Villages. Your doing so will be your legacy. Your not doing so will let down the residents of Sumter County and destroy both your reputation and your legacy. Remember, you were not elected to be friends with the Developer or with the Developer’s remaining puppet Commissioners. What was going on at the County Commission for a number of years was political malfeasance at its worst. You were elected to clean it up, not to be nice guys.

My concern, unfortunately, was justified.

The Developer's Actions to Try to Flip One Member of the EMS Team.
(1) A Pitch to the New Commissioners by Gary Lester. I understand that:
The Developer had his Community Relations Vice President, Gary Lester, separately invite EMS team members Estep and Search to meet with him in Mr. Lester's office to try to get them to back away from their promise to roll back the property tax by increasing the sweetheart impact fee. Such a meeting would not, in itself, be improper. Mr. Lester's expecting a Commissioner to traipse over to Mr. Lester's office to have it, however, was at the very least presumptuous and indicates how he was accustomed to dealing with the Developer's puppets. Most importantly, it shows that the Developer is not going to just sit back and “allow” enactment of the property-tax reduction/impact-fee increase that the voters wanted.
>Mr. Search told Mr. Lester that he would only meet with him in his (Mr. Search's) own office and did meet with him there. At the meeting, Mr. Search had County Administrator Bradley Arnold present for both advice and as a witness. Based on Mr. Search's vote at the last Commission meeting, Mr. Lester was clearly not successful in flipping Mr. Search.
>Mr. Estep also met with Mr. Lester, but I understand that the meeting was not in the office of either one. I don't know what was said or why the meeting was not in Mr. Estep's office, which one would think would be normal.
>Apparently concluding that Mr. Miller, based on his public statements, could not be flipped, Mr. Lester never even invited Mr. Miller to Mr. Lester's office and the two have not met.
(2) A Propaganda Campaign in the Developer's Newspaper. In the Daily Sun, the Developer has launched a propaganda campaign against impact fees by publishing lies and baloney disguised as front-page news*.
(3) Packing the Last County Commission Meeting. The Developer obviously dispatched his suppliers, his Republican Party insiders, and his other minions to the last County Commission meeting to pack the room and crowd out the public. His suppliers even parked their heavy equipment in the parking lot to make it impossible for the public to park there.

A Successful Flipping of an EMS Team Member? At the last Sumter County Commission meeting, the E (Craig Estep) of the EMS team, joined the Developer's two remaining puppet Commissioners (Gilpin and Breeden) to vote to delay even consideration of the road-impact-fee plan until July. Why did Mr. Estep do this? He has had over a year to study the matter, so he clearly does not need more time, as he claims. Was it something that Gary Lester said during their meeting? I don't know, but the delay marks a major victory for the Developer.

There are hundreds of millions of dollars at stake, and the delay, alone, is putting millions of dollars in the Developer's pocket at our expense--as he continues to pay impact fees at a sweetheart rate and we continue to accrue property tax at the inflated rate. Has Mr. Estep been irreversibly flipped by the Developer? We will see in the upcoming Commission meetings. In the meantime, kudos to Commissioners Miller and Search for trying to keep their promise to voters.

A Reminder to Commissioner Estep. Voters need to contact Mr. Estep and remind him of his promise to ROLLBACK THE 25% TAX INCREASE AND TO MAKE UP THE LOST REVENUE BY ENACTING REASONABLE IMPACT FEES and insist he keep his word. That is what the County Commissioner election was all about and what Mr. Estep was elected to do.

Remember, contrary to the picture painted in the front-page “articles” in the Daily Sun, this would not be a tax increase. It would be a tax shifting in order to put the cost of paying for new county infrastructure necessitated by the Developer's massive expansion of The Villages where it belongs, which is not on the backs of the existing residents. One can certainly make the argument that the massive expansion (with its resulting traffic congestion, environmental issues, crowding, draining of our aquifer, necessity of huge expenditures on county infrastructure, etc.) is detrimental for the existing residents. In any event, why should we be subsidizing it?

But central to understanding all this is the fact that the proposed impact-fee increase/property-tax rollback will not be a net tax increase. It will be a PROPERTY-TAX CUT for existing residents and existing businesses (and for future residents and future businesses as well). All Commissioner Estep needs to do to make it happen is, at the NEXT Commission meeting, remember his campaign promise, say that he has changed his mind about delaying consideration of impact fees, and vote accordingly.


*If any reader of this piece wants to understand more about impact fees and cut through the BS that was published about them in the Daily Sun, click on: Impact Fees FAQ: What Are They, Who Pays Them and Why | Development and Taxes (https://flaglerlive.com/44763/impact-fees-faq/))

He Estepped out of line and he better Estep back in!