Sumter Commissioners Risk Lawsuit

[Aloha1]

Surprised this hasn't already been posted here. The latest move by the "Gang Of Three" to ignore their own decision to table any tax increase until their July meeting and proceed to increase everyone in Sumter County's taxes smacks of a violation of their fiduciary responsibility.

And why is this happening? Because the State legislature has put a halt to these egregious increases as of July 1st. So our new overlords want to enact their increase on June 30th. Way to go. Just ignore any research or learning and proceed to "kill" without due process.

[golf2140]

I just opened my mail and received a notice that they also was to raise the Fire Protection fee from $125.00 to $360.00 what else are the going to raise?

[Joe V.]

I just opened my mail and received a notice that they also was to raise the Fire Protection fee from $125.00 to $360.00 what else are the going to raise?

Many people's blood pressures.

[Polar Bear]

I just opened my mail and received a notice that they also was to raise the Fire Protection fee from $125.00 to $360.00 what else are the going to raise?
I don’t have it in front of me, but I think it was a proposal to raise the max allowable to $360, not to immediately raise it.

[Bill14564]

Surprised this hasn't already been posted here. The latest move by the "Gang Of Three" to ignore their own decision to table any tax increase until their July meeting and proceed to increase everyone in Sumter County's taxes smacks of a violation of their fiduciary responsibility.

And why is this happening? Because the State legislature has put a halt to these egregious increases as of July 1st. So our new overlords want to enact their increase on June 30th. Way to go. Just ignore any research or learning and proceed to "kill" without due process.

"increase everyone in Sumter County's taxes" and "smacks of a violation of their fiduciary responsibility"??? That certainly doesn't sound like the situation with the Impact fees - those are what were moved up from July.

It is questionable whether the State can interfere in local decisions in the way the new bill attempts to do. Taking action now before the State attempts to prevent them from performing their fiduciary responsibilities is the right move.

"ignore any research???" You mean the 2019 study to determine what the impact fees ought to be? It seems like their position is to use that research, not ignore it.

This is a complicated issue which requires serious consideration not knee-jerk accusations.

EDIT: Are you referring to raising the maximum fire protection assessment? As others have already mentioned, this does not raise the assessment, it only raises the maximum allowed assessment; actually raising the assessment itself will come later. And, as I understand it, the bill in the State legislature wouldn't affect this assessment (though I will be looking into that since I might be mistaken)

[Stu from NYC]

I just opened my mail and received a notice that they also was to raise the Fire Protection fee from $125.00 to $360.00 what else are the going to raise?

Please read it again, the key word is allowable

[tvbound]

Recognizing that anyone, can sue anyone else, for just about anything, I'm curious as to what the legal basis would be to successfully sue duly elected officials, who have the ability to establish tax rates? I am also curious as to this July 1 Florida law referenced. Any links to it (I have searched, but can't seem to find it)? Thanks.

[Bill14564]

Recognizing that anyone, can sue anyone else, for just about anything, I'm curious as to what the legal basis would be to successfully sue duly elected officials, who have the ability to establish tax rates? I am also curious as to this July 1 Florida law referenced. Any links to it (I have searched, but can't seem to find it)? Thanks.

Here is a recent article (https://www.**************.com/2021/03/08/rep-hage-co-sponsors-bill-to-help-the-villages-avoid-impact-fee-hike/) about the two bills. I haven't looked for a link to the actual bills yet.

EDIT:
HB 337 (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/337)
SB 750 (https://www.**************.com/2021/03/08/rep-hage-co-sponsors-bill-to-help-the-villages-avoid-impact-fee-hike/)

[tvbound]

Here is a recent article (https://www.**************.com/2021/03/08/rep-hage-co-sponsors-bill-to-help-the-villages-avoid-impact-fee-hike/) about the two bills. I haven't looked for a link to the actual bills yet.

EDIT:
HB 337 (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/337)
SB 750 (https://www.**************.com/2021/03/08/rep-hage-co-sponsors-bill-to-help-the-villages-avoid-impact-fee-hike/)

The developer flexing political muscles?

[Number 10 GI]

How long have some of you been around? Max allowable means that they will raise the taxes to that amount, not today but in the next month or so after things quiet down.

What do these taxes have anything to do with impact fees? I thought these new commissioners were there for the "little people" who were being burdened with the costs for streets in the new areas. They are nothing but tax raising lying politicians.

[John41]

Please read it again, the key word is allowable

The key words are “without notice”. Wonder how many will attend the April public hearing.

[John41]

The developer flexing political muscles?
Definitely. But although I support DeSantis if this bill passes I won’t support him in the future.

[tophcfa]

Surprised this hasn't already been posted here. The latest move by the "Gang Of Three" to ignore their own decision to table any tax increase until their July meeting and proceed to increase everyone in Sumter County's taxes smacks of a violation of their fiduciary responsibility.

And why is this happening? Because the State legislature has put a halt to these egregious increases as of July 1st. So our new overlords want to enact their increase on June 30th. Way to go. Just ignore any research or learning and proceed to "kill" without due process.

B.S., they are doing the right thing as the rules of the game were suddenly changed and a gun was put to their head to make a decision under a very tight time line. I applaud them for performing their fiduciary responsibilities by quickly reacting and moving to make a decision before their hands potentially get tied behind their backs.

[Advogado]

I just opened my mail and received a notice that they also was to raise the Fire Protection fee from $125.00 to $360.00 what else are the going to raise?
Did it occur to you that the Developer's impact fee is 0% with regard to fire protection?

[Advogado]

Surprised this hasn't already been posted here. The latest move by the "Gang Of Three" to ignore their own decision to table any tax increase until their July meeting and proceed to increase everyone in Sumter County's taxes smacks of a violation of their fiduciary responsibility.

And why is this happening? Because the State legislature has put a halt to these egregious increases as of July 1st. So our new overlords want to enact their increase on June 30th. Way to go. Just ignore any research or learning and proceed to "kill" without due process.


Your post is factually challenged, reads like something the Developer would say, and ignores both history and the current facts. You gotta stop believing the nonsense that David R. Corder, the Developer's Minister of Propaganda, is publishing in the Daily Sun.

The History: As a result of the massive 25% property-tax increase, which was enacted by the Developer's puppet Commissioners to protect the Developer's sweetheart impact fee, outraged voters elected your so-called “Gang of Three” (better known as the EMS Team of Estep, Miller, and Search) in a landslide. The EMS Team campaigned on a pledge to roll back the property-tax increase by ending the Developer's sweetheart deal on impact fees.

The Current Facts: Unfortunately, Commissioner Estep made what has turned out to be a serious misstep when he moved to table action until July. Meanwhile, despite his obvious conflict of interest, T&D (a major Developer supplier) employee Bret Hage was quietly pushing, obviously at the direction of the Developer, legislation that would limit any increase in impact fees after July 1 to 3%. This underhanded strategy to protect the Developer's sweetheart deal, at the expense of the residents, has now come to light.

Consequently, Mr. Estep has joined Mr. Miller and Mr. Search to accelerate action in case the proposed legislation, which is opposed by the Florida League of Cities, gets passed. (Contrary to your post, it has not yet passed and if voters wake up to its implications, it will not pass.) In retrospect, it is too bad that the EMS Team didn't act immediately upon taking office in January rather than expecting good-faith negotiations with the Developer.

[Advogado]

The developer flexing political muscles?

Obviously.

[Two Bills]

Here is a recent article about the two bills. I haven't looked for a link to the actual bills yet

I never wrote that, and I deny anything it says!!:icon_wink:

[dewilson58]

Oh People.
The entertainment never ends.


Take away all of the current impact fee discounts.
The Developer will not care.
The cost will be passed onto new home buyers.
(Won't start for a couple years since land has been plotted & dirt moved on a lot of land)


Once the new fees start, it will amount to about $4mil per year.
$4mil out of a $250,000,000 budget..........there is your potential property tax roll-back.


Don't spend it all in one place.

[Professor]

Correct.

[Rodebd1]

So happy to see the commissioners doing their job and something positive for the people.

[Rsenholzi]

In the past year our taxes have been raised by 25% and now they are tripling our fire rates yet the developers impact fees remain far lower than any other county in the entire state of Florida. Now a senator from Sumter County is co-sponsoring a bill that will only allow impact fees to go up 3% . They taxes being imposed on us are far greater than 3% and are to cover the new services imposed on us by the developer! Why should they get off with 3% when we are getting jumps of 25% and now tripling the fire rates as a result of what they are doing! We need to fight this and impose the impact fees on the developer much in line with the real costs. The proposed impact fees are over 2 years old. Not one county in the state of Fl pays impact fees even close to the new amount. All the other counties pay triple that amount! We as citizens , need to take a stand before July when the bill for the 3% raise goes into effect. The developer needs to pay their share of the costs and not impose it on the citizens of Sumter County

[algi45]

Miller is okay. It's Estep who's wavering. Search is in the middle.

[mydavid]

I just opened my mail and received a notice that they also was to raise the Fire Protection fee from $125.00 to $360.00 what else are the going to raise? Someone has to pay to protect all the new multiple level apartment's buildings.

[birdiebill]

Did it occur to you that the Developer's impact fee is 0% with regard to fire protection?
Did it occur to you that impact fees can not be used to pay for operating costs or for maintenance to existing roads, facilities etc?

I don't know what the fire protection fee pays for on our property tax bill, but I surmise it is for the services we get from the Fire Department and EMT coverage. If the costs of those services go up, as do the costs for most things over time, either the service has to be cut or the fee for the service has to increase. This may be a situation of increase the fee or cut the number of fire stations, personnel, maintenance, wages, insurance. Just look at what is happening to the cost of gasoline and home owners insurance. Wages increase over time. I surmise the maximum cap of the fire fee has been reached as the fee has increased over time. Now the cost of the services exceeds the $124.00 per taxable entity.

[Altavia]

Be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Emergency services here are excellent and we need to support our first responders with good equipment and pay.

[dewilson58]

Did it occur to you that impact fees can not be used to pay for operating costs or for maintenance to existing roads, facilities etc?


Nothing occurs to Guacamole.
I want the best trained & equiped, highest paid firefighters & EMS responders in Florida in TV.

[Advogado]

Did it occur to you that impact fees can not be used to pay for operating costs or for maintenance to existing roads, facilities etc?

I don't know what the fire protection fee pays for on our property tax bill, but I surmise it is for the services we get from the Fire Department and EMT coverage. If the costs of those services go up, as do the costs for most things over time, either the service has to be cut or the fee for the service has to increase. This may be a situation of increase the fee or cut the number of fire stations, personnel, maintenance, wages, insurance. Just look at what is happening to the cost of gasoline and home owners insurance. Wages increase over time. I surmise the maximum cap of the fire fee has been reached as the fee has increased over time. Now the cost of the services exceeds the $124.00 per taxable entity.

I know that impact fees can only be used to pay for infrastructure necessitated by the new development, not operating costs. The point is that the Developer's impact fees pay only 40% of the cost of his roads and nothing for the costs of his other infrastructure-- like fire stations, fire trucks, and other fire-fighting equipment. We make up the shortfall through our property taxes and the fire assessment.

[Bogie Shooter]

Miller is okay. It's Estep who's wavering. Search is in the middle.

Descriptions from the past.......

Of the Three Stooges!😀

[elevatorman]

The base rate for a firefighter is $11.35 / hour to start. That is roughly $4.00 above todays minimum wage. 60% of Florida voters voted to raise the minimum wage in Florida to $15.00. If a firefighter is to stay at the same $4.00 above rate an increase in Fire Protection Fees will be needed. I don't want a firefighter to be paid minimum wage.

[diva1]

It is a bill in the legislature right now that, if passed, would go into effect July 1.

[Advogado]

Oh People.
The entertainment never ends.


Take away all of the current impact fee discounts.
The Developer will not care.
The cost will be passed onto new home buyers.
(Won't start for a couple years since land has been plotted & dirt moved on a lot of land)


Once the new fees start, it will amount to about $4mil per year.
$4mil out of a $250,000,000 budget..........there is your potential property tax roll-back.


Don't spend it all in one place.
To say that the Developer "will not care" demonstrates your lack of understanding of economics, business, the history of the Developer's impact fee, and the Developer's maneuvering to try to maintain his sweetheart deal. Costs matter to any business, and higher impact fees will be a cost to the Developer. Why do you think the Developer's puppet Bret Hage (who has an obvious conflict of interest since he works for T&D, one of the Developer's largest suppliers) is co-sponsoring HB 337 if the Developer "will not care" if he finally has to pay for his infrastructure?

Furthermore, it doesn't matter to us, the current residents, if the Developer raises his house prices because he finally has to pay the infrastructure costs of his massive expansion of The Villages. Then the cost of the new infrastructure is passed on to the people who necessitate it.

[Advogado]

Oh People.
The entertainment never ends.


Take away all of the current impact fee discounts.
The Developer will not care.
The cost will be passed onto new home buyers.
(Won't start for a couple years since land has been plotted & dirt moved on a lot of land)


Once the new fees start, it will amount to about $4mil per year.
$4mil out of a $250,000,000 budget..........there is your potential property tax roll-back.


Don't spend it all in one place.
To say that the Developer "will not care" demonstrates your lack of understanding of economics, business, and the Developer's maneuvering to try to maintain his sweetheart deal. Costs matter to any business, and higher impact fees will be a cost to the Developer. Why do you think the Developer's puppet Bret Hage (who has an obvious conflict of interest since he works for T&D, one of the Developer's largest suppliers) is co-sponsoring HB 337 if the Developer "will not care" if he finally has to pay for his infrastructure?

Furthermore, it doesn't matter to us, the current residents, if the Developer raises his house prices because he finally has to pay the infrastructure costs of his massive expansion of The Villages. Then the cost of the new infrastructure is passed on to the people who necessitate it.

[MrFlorida]

See you at the meeting, April 13th, 7pm, Everglades rec center . Save the date. Voice your opinion !

[GolfGirl122]

This is hardly a matter for a lawsuit against the Commissioners - however, think about it, the Commissioners want to increase the Impact fee for new construction and the developer and friends fight back. They even go so far as to get legislation passed to cap their potential expense. Then the Commissioners send out a notice to residents that (due to future construction) the Fire District needs money to keep up with all the new construction. What??? How about if we all just give the developer one of our credit cards and they can use it to continue all this building. Thank you to the Commissioners who are trying to expose the machine at work.

[tophcfa]

See you at the meeting, April 13th, 7pm, Everglades rec center . Save the date. Voice your opinion !

You better have somebody drop you off, there won’t be any place to park.

[birdiebill]

Here is a couple of facts for those wondering about the Fire Protection Assessment. First, the Villages Safety Division received a FEMA grant last year in October to cover the costs of the additional firemen needed in The Villages. Here is the official info:

The Villages Public Safety Department has been awarded a multi-million-dollar grant to hire new 27 firefighters.

The $6.52 million SAFER grant was awarded by FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security. It provides funding for the firefighters for three years, which includes salary and benefits. And unlike in past years when similar grants were awarded, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, departments that received the SAFER grants won’t be required to provide any kind of matching funds.

Second, I wondered what the Fire Protection Assessment covered and found this from Lake County and presume our Sumter County/The Villages fee is used for similar purposes:

Question: What is Lake County's present Residential Fire Assessment Fee?
Answer: The current fee is $206 for Fire Protection. This fee is used for firefighters' salaries, as well as to buy necessary equipment and to pay for operating expenses such as fuel and health insurance. Property owners pay this flat fee once a year, no matter how many times the fire department is called to their home or property for assistance.

[crash]

Surprised this hasn't already been posted here. The latest move by the "Gang Of Three" to ignore their own decision to table any tax increase until their July meeting and proceed to increase everyone in Sumter County's taxes smacks of a violation of their fiduciary responsibility.

And why is this happening? Because the State legislature has put a halt to these egregious increases as of July 1st. So our new overlords want to enact their increase on June 30th. Way to go. Just ignore any research or learning and proceed to "kill" without due process.

It is not a tax it is an impact fee. This is the money used to build all those roads south of 44 that if they weren't there the developer would not be able to build houses down there. The tax payers are subsidizing the developer with higher taxes to offset the sweetheart impact fee that the developer gets. This new bill is the developer going to the state to over ride the commissioners wanting to raise the fee.

[Advogado]

Here is a couple of facts for those wondering about the Fire Protection Assessment. First, the Villages Safety Division received a FEMA grant last year in October to cover the costs of the additional firemen needed in The Villages. Here is the official info:

The Villages Public Safety Department has been awarded a multi-million-dollar grant to hire new 27 firefighters.

The $6.52 million SAFER grant was awarded by FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security. It provides funding for the firefighters for three years, which includes salary and benefits. And unlike in past years when similar grants were awarded, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, departments that received the SAFER grants won’t be required to provide any kind of matching funds.

Second, I wondered what the Fire Protection Assessment covered and found this from Lake County and presume our Sumter County/The Villages fee is used for similar purposes:

Question: What is Lake County's present Residential Fire Assessment Fee?
Answer: The current fee is $206 for Fire Protection. This fee is used for firefighters' salaries, as well as to buy necessary equipment and to pay for operating expenses such as fuel and health insurance. Property owners pay this flat fee once a year, no matter how many times the fire department is called to their home or property for assistance.

The Developer pays a fire impact fee of 0%. What a surprise that the residents have to pick up the tab for the increased fire stations and equipment necessary as a result of the Developer's massive expansion of The Villages. Yet we still have a small number of hard-core Developer-philes posting, on this website, a defense of the Developer's sweetheart deal on impact fees.

[crash]

This is hardly a matter for a lawsuit against the Commissioners - however, think about it, the Commissioners want to increase the Impact fee for new construction and the developer and friends fight back. They even go so far as to get legislation passed to cap their potential expense. Then the Commissioners send out a notice to residents that (due to future construction) the Fire District needs money to keep up with all the new construction. What??? How about if we all just give the developer one of our credit cards and they can use it to continue all this building. Thank you to the Commissioners who are trying to expose the machine at work.

If you read the letter they want to raise the cap on the fire assessment that is currently at $126. This has been in place for 14 years and they are butting up to it at $125. The new development is not what is increasing the cost because every house pays the fee. What is increasing the cost is inflation. They are just increasing the cap on what they can charge.

[Advogado]

If you read the letter they want to raise the cap on the fire assessment that is currently at $126. This has been in place for 14 years and they are butting up to it at $125. The new development is not what is increasing the cost because every house pays the fee. What is increasing the cost is inflation. They are just increasing the cap on what they can charge.

What is in the background is the Developer's sweetheart impact fee of 0% for the fire stations and equipment necessitated by his massive expansion of The Villages. Tell the Commissioners to get moving on enacting realistic impact fees.

[dewilson58]

If you read the letter they want to raise the cap on the fire assessment that is currently at $126. This has been in place for 14 years and they are butting up to it at $125. The new development is not what is increasing the cost because every house pays the fee. What is increasing the cost is inflation. They are just increasing the cap on what they can charge.
Correct.
It's just increasing the Max Available.
When the fee goes to the max some day, it's $1 per day per house.
A lot of bad odor rising off of stale guacamole.

[rmd2]

Please read it again, the key word is allowable

So if they raised it to the allowable it would be $360.

[maggie1]

While I "sort" of understand the issue at hand, that this is merely a decision to increase the maximum fire protection assessment from $125 to $360, it doesn't indicate that we in Sumter County will see this increase anytime soon. Yeah, right! If it is increased for future operations then you can bet the future will be here before you know it. The largest population in Sumter is here in The Villages. What are the assessment rates in Lake and Marion, which also is part of The Villages? How long has the maximum $125 been in effect from what it was before. Are the yearly calls for service by fire and EMS at such an increasing rate that it requires the fire assessment to be raised more than 200%? Look, folks, I want a good safety force too, but we are not New York City, where calls for service are a constant. We don't have the monstrous office buildings, and very few high rises in our county to address should there be a fire. We are mostly retired, older people on fixed incomes and many will not be in a position to afford these increases as they come about. I hope some of you that plan to attend the meeting will ask about the calls for service - what is the increase in CFS over the last five years in Sumter County. What is the assessment in Lake and Marion, and require them to qualify the need for the increase. We will be back in Ohio by the time the meeting takes place, or else we would have been there to ask a few of these questions ourselves.

[rmd2]

Miller is okay. It's Estep who's wavering. Search is in the middle.

All three of them said they would roll it back!

[dewilson58]

How long has the maximum $125 been in effect from what it was before.


Read other posts, you will learn: the fire assessment that is currently at $126. This has been in place for 14 years and they are butting up to it at $125.


Google, you will learn more.

[rmd2]

You better have somebody drop you off, there won’t be any place to park.

That is one of the biggest parking lots in TV.

[Advogado]

All three of them said they would roll it back!
Yes, they certainly did, and they promised to make a property-tax rollback possible by requiring the Developer to pay a reasonable impact fee.

Miller is doing everything he can to make it happen and happen now. Unfortunately, Estep and Search initially agreed to postpone action until July-- apparently unaware of the Developer's Tallahassee maneuver to keep his sweetheart deal by limiting impact-fee increases to 3% after July 1.

[airstreamingypsy]

That is one of the biggest parking lots in TV.

Last time the developer had T&D and other contractors fill the parking lot with big trucks and construction trailers, so there was no place for cars to park.

[Buckeye Bob]

It will be immediate and on your next tax bill.

[GolfGirl122]

Yes, true. But the need for additional facilities each year is increasing the staffing, payroll, pension and all the other costs subject to inflation each year. I support the Fire Department and Emergency Services 200%, but the growth of the Villages also means the growth of the Department and additional costs, plus inflation.

[birdiebill]

While I "sort" of understand the issue at hand, that this is merely a decision to increase the maximum fire protection assessment from $125 to $360, it doesn't indicate that we in Sumter County will see this increase anytime soon. Yeah, right! If it is increased for future operations then you can bet the future will be here before you know it. The largest population in Sumter is here in The Villages. What are the assessment rates in Lake and Marion, which also is part of The Villages? How long has the maximum $125 been in effect from what it was before. Are the yearly calls for service by fire and EMS at such an increasing rate that it requires the fire assessment to be raised more than 200%? Look, folks, I want a good safety force too, but we are not New York City, where calls for service are a constant. We don't have the monstrous office buildings, and very few high rises in our county to address should there be a fire. We are mostly retired, older people on fixed incomes and many will not be in a position to afford these increases as they come about. I hope some of you that plan to attend the meeting will ask about the calls for service - what is the increase in CFS over the last five years in Sumter County. What is the assessment in Lake and Marion, and require them to qualify the need for the increase. We will be back in Ohio by the time the meeting takes place, or else we would have been there to ask a few of these questions ourselves.

I can answer two of your questions. First, from the Lake County web site, the Fire Protection assessment in Lake County is $206.00 per house per year.

Second, we have lived in The Villages for five years. The maximum cap on the Fire Assessment in The Villages in Sumter County has remained at $125 for the five years. I do not know how many years before that. Our annual Fire Assessment has remained at $124 for each of the tax years. So no increase in the max or the actual assessment for at least five years, maybe more. We all know costs have risen in those five years.

[irishwonone]

Totally agree. It’s late in the game and that 25% ship has sailed. Perhaps tough but thoughtful negotiations can recoup a little. However coming up with a long term strategy that offers protection to all parties is a must. Name calling and threatening will only make things worse.

[Buckeye Bob]

Our annual Fire Assessment has remained at $124 for each of the tax years. So no increase in the max or the actual assessment for at least five years, maybe more. We all know costs have risen in those five years.[/QUOTE]

Everything has risen in cost except the developers impact fees. The impact fees should be paying for the new firehouses and roads due to new developments.

[Number 10 GI]

Did it occur to you that the Developer's impact fee is 0% with regard to fire protection?

Why should the developer have to pay anything for fire protection? The FD exists to protect the home owners property so it is the obligation of the owners to pay for it.

[joelfmi]

Pease tell me what's the tax difference is between homes that lie outside of the villages and the one's that lie in the villages.

[Bill14564]

Why should the developer have to pay anything for fire protection? The FD exists to protect the home owners property so it is the obligation of the owners to pay for it.

The developer doesn't actually pay anything. Sure, they might foot the bill while during construction but the cost of the impact fee is passed along to the buyer the same as the cost of lumber and bathroom fixtures.

Assessing impact fees on new construction is a way of making the property owners pay for the additional infrastructure needed to support their homes and businesses.

[Advogado]

Why should the developer have to pay anything for fire protection? The FD exists to protect the home owners property so it is the obligation of the owners to pay for it.

This issue should have been decided by the last Commissioner election.

The voters overwhelmingly decided that the Developer should pay for the infrastructure (which would include fire stations, trucks, and other equipment) necessitated by his massive expansion of The Villages. In many other counties, he would have to do so, but not here-- thanks to his puppets who formerly controlled the County Commission.

Obviously, he should not pay for fire services to the existing community, and nobody is suggesting he do so.

[Bogie Shooter]

This issue should have been decided by the last Commissioner election.

The voters overwhelmingly decided that the Developer should pay for the infrastructure (which would include fire stations, trucks, and other equipment) necessitated by his massive expansion of The Villages). In many other counties, he would have to do so, but not here-- thanks to his puppets who formerly controlled the County Commission.

Obviously, he should not pay for fire services to the existing community, and nobody is suggesting he do so.

Since you stated this I assume you know what counties......which ones?

[lpkruege1]

Ok, so unless I'm missing something here. There are 74,242 homes in Sumter co. as of July 2019. There were 1609 businesses that were employer establishments. There was a total of 7,013 non employee businesses. Let's just look at home max tax increases. I see this as a Max tax increase of 288%. 74,242 homes X $235 each home. =$17,464,870. That's without assessments on the businesses. So sorry for asking but What the Heck? Where does the developer or the county pay for any of the new fire stations or EMTs? 25% here, 288% there? It seems to me we paid for our fire stations and EMTs already in our bond. What am I missing? Even at $50,000 wage for firemen that's 349 new firemen. Or that's 26 new fire trucks at $660,000 per truck. Or 17 new fire stations at a million dollars each. So What are they asking for here? I think they need to do some explaining.

[Advogado]

Since you stated this I assume you know what counties......which ones?
I will name one off the top of my head for you. In North Collier County, the Developer would pay a fire-impact fee of $476/house if the house is less than 4,000 sq. ft. If => than 4,000 square feet, it would be $833/ house. In Sumter County, of course, he pays a fire-impact fee of zero. If you are curious about other counties, Google the county's name and impact fees.

[Pairadocs]

I just opened my mail and received a notice that they also was to raise the Fire Protection fee from $125.00 to $360.00 what else are the going to raise?

Same here, who gets up the nerve to make a raise of 300% ? ? This is nonsense, something else has to be going on here ???

[Pairadocs]

Ok, so unless I'm missing something here. There are 74,242 homes in Sumter co. as of July 2019. There were 1609 businesses that were employer establishments. There was a total of 7,013 non employee businesses. Let's just look at home max tax increases. I see this as a Max tax increase of 288%. 74,242 homes X $235 each home. =$17,464,870. That's without assessments on the businesses. So sorry for asking but What the Heck? Where does the developer or the county pay for any of the new fire stations or EMTs? 25% here, 288% there? It seems to me we paid for our fire stations and EMTs already in our bond. What am I missing? Even at $50,000 wage for firemen that's 349 new firemen. Or that's 26 new fire trucks at $660,000 per truck. Or 17 new fire stations at a million dollars each. So What are they asking for here? I think they need to do some explaining.

Right, there is a lot of explaining that needs to be done !

[shirleyjerez]

What difference does it make . They make promises and don’t stick by it. Isn’t that politician ??!

[dewilson58]

What difference does it make . They make promises and don’t stick by it. Isn’t that politician ??!
Yes, but so many voters fell for it (without thinking if a 25% increase could be reversed) and now reality is setting in. :1rotfl:

[newgirl]

Many can not afford this, I don't understand how this can be justified? And what can we the people do to stop this?

[birdiebill]

Many can not afford this, I don't understand how this can be justified? And what can we the people do to stop this?

The commissioners may have to make a difficult choice IF the reason for the increase is that the cost of providing excellent fire protection coverage has risen above the level of the current fire protection fee assessment limit. Wages, insurance, equipment, training, maintenance, supplies, utility costs may have risen to where the current assessment does not cover those costs for the Fire Department. Therefore their choice is to either raise the assessment fee to continue excellent fire protection coverage, or to reduce fire protection coverage by eliminating fire department personnel, equipment, fire stations, EMT response, etc. There has not been an increase in the current fire protection assessment fee in years. Tough choice.

We currently pay home owners insurance premiums partially based on the excellent coverage score for fire protection in The Village/Sumter County. We are rated category 2 which is the second highest possible rating. If the category slips below 2, we will pay even higher home owner premiums. So we are going to pay one way or another.

[Aloha1]

B.S., they are doing the right thing as the rules of the game were suddenly changed and a gun was put to their head to make a decision under a very tight time line. I applaud them for performing their fiduciary responsibilities by quickly reacting and moving to make a decision before their hands potentially get tied behind their backs.

I disagree. They adopted a position that they would do due diligence and take the issue off the table in July. Then, without doing said due diligence, they decided they must "stick it" to TV by going ahead with their tax increase on June 30th. There have been plenty of discussions in other threads about the false premise these 3 are operating from. Fiduciary Responsibility is a legal term. It requires those in power to be mindful and to work in the best interests of the taxpayers. There are more taxpayers in Sumter County not in TV than in TV. Yet all these 3 seem to care about is the heck with anybody but us in TV. Total negligence.

[Aloha1]

This is hardly a matter for a lawsuit against the Commissioners - however, think about it, the Commissioners want to increase the Impact fee for new construction and the developer and friends fight back. They even go so far as to get legislation passed to cap their potential expense. Then the Commissioners send out a notice to residents that (due to future construction) the Fire District needs money to keep up with all the new construction. What??? How about if we all just give the developer one of our credit cards and they can use it to continue all this building. Thank you to the Commissioners who are trying to expose the machine at work.

You contradict yourself.

[Aloha1]

As a sage once said: "Never underestimate the ignorance of the American electorate."

[Bill14564]

I disagree. They adopted a position that they would do due diligence and take the issue off the table in July. Then, without doing said due diligence, they decided they must "stick it" to TV by going ahead with their tax increase on June 30th. There have been plenty of discussions in other threads about the false premise these 3 are operating from. Fiduciary Responsibility is a legal term. It requires those in power to be mindful and to work in the best interests of the taxpayers. There are more taxpayers in Sumter County not in TV than in TV. Yet all these 3 seem to care about is the heck with anybody but us in TV. Total negligence.

The Commissioners were going about their day and suddenly out of the blue decided to change things? Are you honestly contending that nothing happened to affect their decision? Are you accusing them of improperly bringing a motion back for consideration?

"more taxpayers in Sumter County non in TV than in TV"? I seriously doubt that.

EDIT: It looks like it is close. Sumter County = 132,000. The Villages = 80,000. Approximately 15% outside Sumter County -> 68,000 in Sumter County. So pretty close to 50/50 split.

"the heck with anybody but us in TV" Yeah, I really hate it when people care about my needs, really ticks me off!

[village dreamer]

That is one of the biggest parking lots in TV.

remember last time all the t and d trucks, they will bring in every truck they can and block us out

[bpascani]

This is more than doubled, which is absurd!!

[perrjojo]

I’m confused. Some post are referencing impact fees and others are referring to the ad valorem tax. It’s apples and ranges

[tophcfa]

I disagree. They adopted a position that they would do due diligence and take the issue off the table in July. Then, without doing said due diligence, they decided they must "stick it" to TV by going ahead with their tax increase on June 30th. There have been plenty of discussions in other threads about the false premise these 3 are operating from. Fiduciary Responsibility is a legal term. It requires those in power to be mindful and to work in the best interests of the taxpayers. There are more taxpayers in Sumter County not in TV than in TV. Yet all these 3 seem to care about is the heck with anybody but us in TV. Total negligence.

One of the new commissioners (who represents the swing vote) tried to buy time to explore adequate due diligence, unfortunately the time he tried to buy has been threatened to be taken away. As a result, the new commissioners were forced into having to expedite the time line, and now are being falsely accused of changing their minds. They are performing their fiduciary responsible to the residential taxpayers of Sumter County by expediting the process before the rules of the game very well might be changed.

If anyone should be called out, it is not the three new Commissioners, it is those who try to change the rules if they don’t like the way the game is playing out.

[J1ceasar]

It's interesting to me at any politician even talks to a developer for negotiations. He's up to the politician to look at the facts understand what voters elected them to do and then go ahead and do it to the best of their ability. It seems easy enough to me to raise the infrastructure taxes to a fair reasonable amount similar to the counties around as far as competition for building and capital monies

[dewilson58]

I’m confused. Some post are referencing impact fees and others are referring to the ad valorem tax. It’s apples and ranges
Logic is not allowed on ToTV.

[harleyfarmer]

We the small people voted them in and they are representing us. Why should the older houses have to pay for our roads and the new ones also. This place is already way overcrowded

[Dantes]

Opinion they are doing this so we can be like NewYork and that lovable place Portland
Enjoy the ride it’s coming to TV

[Aloha1]

So many NIMBY comments here ( not in my back yard). And a lot of lack of caring about the greater good. More like, "I got mine so shut the door."

Yes, the Troika quickly panicked after the legislature indicated they were passing a tax increase limits bill. After all, since they apparently never intended to do any due diligence on this no need to wait until July. Beware the Law Of Unintended Consequences.

[dewilson58]

As a sage once said: "Never underestimate the ignorance of the American electorate."
One of my favorites.........Sage Dressing. :icon_hungry:

[merrymini]

Vote with hope! Looks like we may have substituted one can of worms with another but the point has been made. Onto the next election. Anyone voted in can be voted out!

[diva1]

Surprised this hasn't already been posted here. The latest move by the "Gang Of Three" to ignore their own decision to table any tax increase until their July meeting and proceed to increase everyone in Sumter County's taxes smacks of a violation of their fiduciary responsibility.

And why is this happening? Because the State legislature has put a halt to these egregious increases as of July 1st. So our new overlords want to enact their increase on June 30th. Way to go. Just ignore any research or learning and proceed to "kill" without due process.

You obviously do not know the history on this issue. The old 'Gang of Five' owned by the Developer put the screws to taxpayers a couple years ago with a 25% property tax increase while simultaneously lowering the Developer's impact fees significantly. Thus the POd people threw out the 3 of them up for reelection last November. Now the Developer wants to take local issues away from the oversight of local people and vest it in the hands of the state of FL where they have more control. If their Bill's are passed they would go into effect July 1. This is not a good thing and our Commissioners need to be proactive before then. The Republicans don't like big government interference...until they do!

[diva1]

Surprised this hasn't already been posted here. The latest move by the "Gang Of Three" to ignore their own decision to table any tax increase until their July meeting and proceed to increase everyone in Sumter County's taxes smacks of a violation of their fiduciary responsibility.

And why is this happening? Because the State legislature has put a halt to these egregious increases as of July 1st. So our new overlords want to enact their increase on June 30th. Way to go. Just ignore any research or learning and proceed to "kill" without due process.

You obviously do not know the history on this issue. The old 'Gang of Five' owned by the Developer put the screws to taxpayers a couple years ago with a 25% property tax increase while simultaneously lowering the Developer's impact fees significantly. Thus the POd people threw out the 3 of them up for reelection last November. Now the Developer wants to take local issues away from the oversight of local people and vest it in the hands of the state of FL where they have more control. If their Bills are passed they would go into effect July 1. This is not a good thing and our Commissioners need to be proactive before then. The Republicans don't like big government interference...until they do!

[Taltarzac725]

You obviously do not know the history on this issue. The old 'Gang of Five' owned by the Developer put the screws to taxpayers a couple years ago with a 25% property tax increase while simultaneously lowering the Developer's impact fees significantly. Thus the POd people threw out the 3 of them up for reelection last November. Now the Developer wants to take local issues away from the oversight of local people and vest it in the hands of the state of FL where they have more control. If their Bills are passed they would go into effect July 1. This is not a good thing and our Commissioners need to be proactive before then. The Republicans don't like big government interference...until they do!

That is interesting and sounds accurate.

The Villages is the developers' grand scheme and they should not just avoid keeping things fair after they have made a great deal of money from the venture. Firemen and the like need to be well financed as well as do the roads.

[ken.yotz]

If the impact fee that new buyers would essentially pay is increased, what is the worst that can happen? A reduction in growth! Is that really so bad? Only the Developer is hurt. Impeach Bret Hage!
The fire department wants a blank check to nearly triple rates any time they want. Would you really vote for that?

[stan the man]

If the impact fee that new buyers would essentially pay is increased, what is the worst that can happen? A reduction in growth! Is that really so bad? Only the Developer is hurt. Impeach Bret Hage!
The fire department wants a blank check to nearly triple rates any time they want. Would you really vote for that?

All firemen and EMTs should be paid a minimum of $30 p/hr, not $11 what a joke First responder training, Hazmat training, Firefighter training, Operating the pumps, Building inspection, and a multitude of other incidents they respond to in the performance of their duties...and they do not get sabbaticals, or great retirement like school teachers, military personal, etc They put their life on the line every day

[daddymac1127]

Forgive me if i don't understand. It is Sumter County who wants to raise the Fire Impact Fee. The Villages has their own Fire Department which seems large enough to handle The Villages property and residents. So why does Sumter County need such a large increase?

[newgirl]

Wages do not raise when you are retired or on social security.
Also, we are charged for rescue privately, ambulance is not covered here as it has been in every other city/ state I have ever lived. There is no reason other then to put more coins in the developers pocket at the expense of those who moved here because the promises made back in the 90's.

[Bogie Shooter]

Wages do not raise when you are retired or on social security.
Also, we are charged for rescue privately, ambulance is not covered here as it has been in every other city/ state I have ever lived. There is no reason other then to put more coins in the developers pocket at the expense of those who moved here because the promises made back in the 90's.

Are you saying the Developer should be paying for ambulance service?:confused:

What are the documented promises you mention.

[Joe V.]

Wages do not raise when you are retired or on social security.
Also, we are charged for rescue privately, ambulance is not covered here as it has been in every other city/ state I have ever lived. There is no reason other then to put more coins in the developers pocket at the expense of those who moved here because the promises made back in the 90's.

What promises. You have them in writing don't you? Records??

[rmd2]

You obviously do not know the history on this issue. The old 'Gang of Five' owned by the Developer put the screws to taxpayers a couple years ago with a 25% property tax increase while simultaneously lowering the Developer's impact fees significantly. Thus the POd people threw out the 3 of them up for reelection last November. Now the Developer wants to take local issues away from the oversight of local people and vest it in the hands of the state of FL where they have more control. If their Bill's are passed they would go into effect July 1. This is not a good thing and our Commissioners need to be proactive before then. The Republicans don't like big government interference...until they do!

In this case the big gov't interference started with the new bills that are taking away power from the locals and giving it to big gov't (the State) so the problem IS the big gov't - transferring power from local to State! This issue is consistent with conservatives not liking big government.

[Spikearoni]

If Desantis is a proponent of this bill, whether it passes or not, why would you continue to support him?

[dewilson58]

If Desantis is a proponent of this bill, whether it passes or not, why would you continue to support him?


SAVE THIS POST:

The bill will not pass.




:cryin2:

[Altavia]

We the small people voted them in and they are representing us. Why should the older houses have to pay for our roads and the new ones also. This place is already way overcrowded

Because growth is what has kept your taxes so low.

Anyone who does not like growth is living in the wrong area.

[Pairadocs]

The key words are “without notice”. Wonder how many will attend the April public hearing.

It's the ideal time to ram through any legislation, rules, raises, and changes that may not be in the best interest of the residents of the community.... Covid has not disappeared and will keep many in this age group away; does anyone think "they" don't know this ? It's like when you want to change something, tear down a building, or put up a permanent wall or block something off, when do you do this ? Well of course you start it about 2 to 3 a.m. when most are fast asleep, less to deal with. Same with virus, best time to hold "public" meetings of any kind, low attendance assured. Sign of the times.

[dewilson58]

It's the ideal time to ram through any legislation, rules, raises, and changes that may not be in the best interest of the residents of the community.... Covid has not disappeared and will keep many in this age group away; does anyone think "they" don't know this ? It's like when you want to change something, tear down a building, or put up a permanent wall or block something off, when you do do this ? Well of course you start it about 2 to 3 a.m. when most are fast asleep, less to deal with. Same with virus, best time to hold "public" meetings of any kind, low attendance assured. Sign of the times.
Nope. The place will be packed.

[Worldseries27]

i disagree. They adopted a position that they would do due diligence and take the issue off the table in july. Then, without doing said due diligence, they decided they must "stick it" to tv by going ahead with their tax increase on june 30th. There have been plenty of discussions in other threads about the false premise these 3 are operating from. Fiduciary responsibility is a legal term. It requires those in power to be mindful and to work in the best interests of the taxpayers. There are more taxpayers in sumter county not in tv than in tv. Yet all these 3 seem to care about is the heck with anybody but us in tv. Total negligence.
color of law ? Anyone?

[Worldseries27]

this is more than doubled, which is absurd!!
the drones will be flying

[kappy]

What many on this thread fail to understand is that if Florida HB 337 and S 750 are enacted, EVERY Florida property taxpayer will be paying higher taxes whenever new development is built in their county and the costs of that development are greater than the impact fees currently being charged in that county. Since the developer of The Villages wishes to keep their impact fee payments as favorable as they have been, they are willing to take the impact fee decisions by the other 66 counties in Florida out of the hands of those county governments. I wonder if the other 66 counties are in favor of giving up this responsibility? If you have friends or relatives in another county, you might want to make them aware of this slight of hand.

[tophcfa]

Nope. The place will be packed.

With every contractor that currently sub-contracts for the Villages and wants to continue to be on the list for future work.

[crmain41]

Some of the surrounding communities are gathering signatures on a petition to present. All petitions must be completed and submitted 20 days prior to the meeting.

[Advogado]

With every contractor that currently sub-contracts for the Villages and wants to continue to be on the list for future work.
Remember that every construction worker who appears at that meeting is being paid time and a half to show up.

[Joe V.]

Remember that every construction worker who appears at that meeting is being paid time and a half to show up.

Prove it. Or stay silent.

[dewilson58]

Prove it. Or stay silent.
:bigbow:

[Advogado]

Prove it. Or stay silent.

Unless their employer doesn't understand the law, he will be paying them if he asked them to show up. Can I prove that the employer is obeying the law? Of course not, but it is highly likely.

[Advogado]

The latest on the Developer's maneuvering in Tallahassee to maintain his sweetheart impact fee, at our expense, can be found by clicking here: Villages employee/lawmaker wants to help his employer - Orlando Sentinel (https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/editorials/os-op-the-villages-taxes-impact-fees-conflict-20210316-32srqsxypzep3kn554babisukm-story.html)

Hopefully, the voters of Sumter County will remember this next year and vote out, in the Republican primary: State Representative Hage, County Commissioner Gilpin, and Couny Commissioner Breeden. But memories are short, and the Developer has a lot of money to spend to keep his guys in office.

Commissioners Estep, Miller, and Search need to act quickly. smartly, and decisively on impact fees.

[dewilson58]

The OS article is wrong.
The numbers presented assume all of the sixty thousand planned homes.
Too late, thousands have already been built, thousands have been platted.

[Advogado]

The OS article is wrong.
The numbers presented assume all of the sixty thousand planned homes.
Too late, thousands have already been built, thousands have been platted.

I would argue that the numbers are too low. They ignore both potential impact-fee revenues from the Developer's commercial construction and impact-fees on infrastructure in addition to roads.

But when you quibble about the numbers, which are illustrative only, you overlook the substance of the article, which is the smell that underlies the proposed legislation and Hage's ties to the Developer. The article is definitely not, as you put it, "WRONG", and to so characterize it is silly.

BTW, I am curious; do you or do you not favor increasing the Developer's sweetheart impact fee and correspondingly rolling back our 25% property-tax hike? You have commented countless times (generally with some nitpicking comment like your one here) on this subject. However, unless i missed it, you have never set clearly forth your position on the real issue.

[dewilson58]

Of course you would argue.
The article is just discussing TV's fees and they are wrong, so the article is wrong.


I have posted my position a number of time, most of the time it's deleted with the sweeping cleaning of the site managers.


My position:
I don't care if the impact fee discount is eliminated and TV fee goes to +$2500.
TV does not care if the fee is increased to the non-discounted level.
It is no money out of TV's pocket, they will just increase the prices.
This increase will result in very little of the 25% increase being reversed.


Did I like the 25% increase, of course not.
Was it unexpected, NOPE.
+10 year of no increases, taxes are going up and they are going up big.


The 25% increase equated to 1% to 2% of disposable income.
It's all proportional to house values, income level, etc.
What was the published example???.........$300,000 house amount to just over $1/day.


I jump into the discussions when I see false information, wrong data and general BS.
I planned my retirement well and this 25% was not even a speed bump.
I extremely happy with The Villages and the Lifestyle they have created.
If my house would have cost $2500 more, if the monthly fees increase by $40 or if my property taxes go up ~$1/day (or proportionately)........It's worth it!!


I enjoy the clueless posters (& maybe some of the voters) who think the 25% will be reversed by increasing impact fees on TV South of 44. It ain't going to happen for so many reasons. There might be a few percentage reduction, but the 25% will not be reversed.


Remember the 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 primary focus is growth.

Sometimes there is a cost to the citizens



There are roads all over the county I will never drive on, but I helped pay for them.
The same is true about my Federal Taxes and the Interstate Road system.


Good Luck with your battle.

[twoplanekid]

An interesting read from the Daily Sun in May of 2006 talking about "Sumter considers county change"

The Villages Daily Sun (https://web.archive.org/web/20060506163140/http://www.thevillagesdailysun.com/articles/2006/04/23/villages/villages01.txt)

It may take a while to load.

[wamley]

If it's a proposal then supply the chart that proposes the months and years the tax will gradiually end up at $360.

[tophcfa]

Because growth is what has kept your taxes so low.

Yet they claim the need for infrastructure necessitated by growth is why existing residents property taxes were jacked up by 25%. Reconcile that?

[Northwoods]

The Developer pays a fire impact fee of 0%. What a surprise that the residents have to pick up the tab for the increased fire stations and equipment necessary as a result of the Developer's massive expansion of The Villages. Yet we still have a small number of hard-core Developer-philes posting, on this website, a defense of the Developer's sweetheart deal on impact fees.

It’s my understanding that the Developer has built every fire station, and then turns it over (donates it) to The villages at no charge.
This is according to Goldwingnut... the all-knowing person on this blog.

[Lonnieme2]

This fire fee, is it per month or per year?

[Goldwingnut]

It’s my understanding that the Developer has built every fire station, and then turns it over (donates it) to The villages at no charge.
This is according to Goldwingnut... the all-knowing person on this blog.

Not sure if it is all the fire stations but it has been true to all the stations south of 466a.

[J1ceasar]

Blame the elected politicians you've had over the last 10 years because they didn't have the guts to have a 3% raise every year which would have made things much more palatable. All you folks seem to forget that the workers I firemen ambulance guys etc etc have to get a raise once in awhile also, buildings get old and need to be maintained old fire trucks need to be sold and bought new. If you would look at the rateables you would see that they have gone up every single year and that the fire tax should be tied as well to the total rate of amount as far as an increase in total revenues gotten

[Jerseygirl08]

The base rate for a firefighter is $11.35 / hour to start. That is roughly $4.00 above todays minimum wage. 60% of Florida voters voted to raise the minimum wage in Florida to $15.00. If a firefighter is to stay at the same $4.00 above rate an increase in Fire Protection Fees will be needed. I don't want a firefighter to be paid minimum wage.
I would hope the firefighters/EMS staff persons would get an increase in their paychecks. That's just ridiculous that their pay is so low. Can that be fact checked?

[Jerseygirl08]

Correct.
It's just increasing the Max Available.
When the fee goes to the max some day, it's $1 per day per house.
A lot of bad odor rising off of stale guacamole.
May be nothing to you Wilson, but to a lot of people, $30 a month here, $10 there, another $25 over here, ........... that makes it tough for them. Maybe you have a big fat pension or other steady income and sit pretty well in TV, some others cannot afford it. Also, the point, other than the money, has been totally lost here. It's the principal of the Developer obviously turning his back on the people who made him rich. And why do you keep talking about avocado's?

[dewilson58]

May be nothing to you Wilson, but to a lot of people, $30 a month here, $10 there, another $25 over here, ........... that makes it tough for them.


The cap is rising, not the actual assessment.
(the assessment will increase some day)

Current cap has been in place for over 12 years.


Provide support for your "a lot of people".

[tuccillo]

It is a double pun and pretty clever. He is referring to the poster "Avogadro" (the name of the Italian scientist primarily know for Avogadro's number (the number of atoms in a "mole")). His name sort of sounds like avocado, the primary ingredient in guaca"mole". You can groan now ;-)

And why do you keep talking about avocado's?

[Bilyclub]

Of course you would argue.
The article is just discussing TV's fees and they are wrong, so the article is wrong.


I have posted my position a number of time, most of the time it's deleted with the sweeping cleaning of the site managers.


My position:
I don't care if the impact fee discount is eliminated and TV fee goes to +$2500.
TV does not care if the fee is increased to the non-discounted level.
It is no money out of TV's pocket, they will just increase the prices.
.


If TV doesn't care about an impact fee increase why is there all this anti impact fee increase activity going on at the developer's bequest ? Hage, the Sun articles, the contractor armada, and hiring a lawyer to dig up dirt on the new commissioners.Why spend the time and money to defeat something they could care less about?

[dewilson58]

If TV doesn't care about an impact fee increase why is there all this anti impact fee increase activity going on at the developer's bequest ? Hage, the Sun articles, the contractor armada, and hiring a lawyer to dig up dirt on the new commissioners.Why spend the time and money to defeat something they could care less about?
They would prefer not to add $2k to the price of the house, but if the fee goes up....no big deal. Hope that helps you.

[Advogado]

If TV doesn't care about an impact fee increase why is there all this anti impact fee increase activity going on at the developer's bequest ? Hage, the Sun articles, the contractor armada, and hiring a lawyer to dig up dirt on the new commissioners.Why spend the time and money to defeat something they could care less about?

The Developer obviously cares, and cares a lot.

[Carla B]

Two Bills posted this on another thread and I think it is worth reading this Sumter County schedule of road impact fees. The fees for a single family detached house in a retirement community seems minimal compared to other types of buildings. So I can see why the Developer is concerned, when he builds in categories other than retirement single-family housing.

Road Impact Fee Schedules | Sumter County, FL - Official Website (https://www.sumtercountyfl.gov/672/Road-Impact-Fees)

[dewilson58]

~$800 increase.


:1rotfl: