Recall

[willie10342@gmail.com]

I am sorry, but I think the people living in Sumter County should start thinking about recalling the commissioner s in Sumter County.
Why is it so important to them to keep taxing and taxing.
I feel they work for Washington. There comes a point in time that it must stop. I think of those that are on fixed budgets and now the Hospital has taken issue with the increase. It has to stop especially when we were but with a 25% increase a few years ago.

[Advogado]

I am sorry, but I think the people living in Sumter County should start thinking about recalling the commissioner s in Sumter County.
Why is it so important to them to keep taxing and taxing.
I feel they work for Washington. There comes a point in time that it must stop. I think of those that are on fixed budgets and now the Hospital has taken issue with the increase. It has to stop especially when we were but with a 25% increase a few years ago.

Because Sumter County is not a charter county, it is impossible to recall the County commissioners. If it were possible, commissioners Gilpin and Breeden would have been recalled last year, when the other developer puppets were voted out of office by a 2 to 1 margin. As you would understand, if you were not relying on the Daily Sun for news, the proposed increase in impact fees is not a tax increase. It will be offset by property tax decrease.

[PennBF]

It hasn't taken long for a concerted effort to get the current elected Commissioner's out of office so the old allegedly controlled board by the Developer could be put back in place. My guess it is just beginning as there is also an order being processed to get correspondence etc, between Commissioner's released. It is critical the residents keep up to date on the actions to try to remove them and protect the freedom we so dearly need. :ohdear:

[champion6]

At first I found it amusing how each article was written by the "commander of the cannons" at the Daily Sun, writer David Corder. Each repeated over and over a salvo of shots at the three new commissioners. Now, I find it annoying.

It is also very annoying to see Corder attempt to convince us that he is an expert writer. Here is what I mean.

At the end of many Daily sun articles, there is a brief description of the article's author. Normally it looks like this, "Senior writer John Doe can be reached at 352-753-1234, ext. 1234, or john.doe@thevillagesmedia.com."

After articles written by David Corder, we see this, "Specialty Editor David R. Corder is a 2021 finalist for the Lucy B. Morgan Award for In-depth Reporting. His coverage of government and economic news has earned numerous honors from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Florida Society of News Editors, the Florida Press Club and the Florida Press Association. He can be reached at David.Corder@thevillagesmedia.com or 352-753-1119 ext 5241."

Pu-leez, Mr. Corder. Give it a rest!

[Stu from NYC]

At first I found it amusing how each article was written by the "commander of the cannons" at the Daily Sun, writer David Corder. Each repeated over and over a salvo of shots at the three new commissioners. Now, I find it annoying.

It is also very annoying to see Corder attempt to convince us that he is an expert writer. Here is what I mean.

At the end of many Daily sun articles, there is a brief description of the article's author. Normally it looks like this, "Senior writer John Doe can be reached at 352-753-1234, ext. 1234, or john.doe@thevillagesmedia.com."

After articles written by David Corder, we see this, "Specialty Editor David R. Corder is a 2021 finalist for the Lucy B. Morgan Award for In-depth Reporting. His coverage of government and economic news has earned numerous honors from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Florida Society of News Editors, the Florida Press Club and the Florida Press Association. He can be reached at David.Corder@thevillagesmedia.com or 352-753-1119 ext 5241."

Pu-leez, Mr. Corder. Give it a rest!

As long as his income is via the developer who would you expect him to stop?

[vintageogauge]

The tease by UF regarding moving the hospital site to Lake County would only be a couple miles from it's proposed site in Sumter County, closer for some people a bit further for others but no significant difference except who get's the tax revenue.

[Hans53]

talking with neighbors today we agree with somehow recalling. I read somewhere Sumter already has the highest impact fees.
Healthcare systems are already stressed and hospital capacity for some has a bed waiting period of one to two days.

[Dond1959]

The local paper is slanted one way and the online bad news is slanted the other. I will take Facts from both but not believe the spin in either direction. Have you ever noticed certain people always respond on topics? It makes you wonder where their slant comes from.

[Advogado]

As long as his income is via the developer who would you expect him to stop?
Corder is shameless.

[Advogado]

talking with neighbors today we agree with somehow recalling. I read somewhere Sumter already has the highest impact fees.
Healthcare systems are already stressed and hospital capacity for some has a bed waiting period of one to two days.
You and your neighbors need to stop relying on the Daily Sun for your news.

[Northwoods]

The local paper is slanted one way and the online bad news is slanted the other. I will take Facts from both but not believe the spin in either direction. Have you ever noticed certain people always respond on topics? It makes you wonder where their slant comes from.

I totally agree with you. BOTH are slanted. Don't assume one is... and the other isn't. They both are.

[J1ceasar]

Sumter has extremely low impact fees if you compare them to the surrounding counties. and the simple fact of the matter again and again if you would bother to read the budget is that it went from 200 million to 250 million in tax revenue. Trust me when I say that's 50 million dollars was mostly an increase in taxes

[J1ceasar]

Hospitals will be built no matter what the infrastructure taxes are. It's a for-profit system and they go where the money is

[J1ceasar]

Interesting comments about recalls. The only recalls I ever hear about or California. Has someone wrote below about lack of legislation for recalls maybe we should start writing to the state senate to get that put into the books

[Rosebud1949]

I am sorry, but I think the people living in Sumter County should start thinking about recalling the commissioner s in Sumter County.
Why is it so important to them to keep taxing and taxing.
I feel they work for Washington. There comes a point in time that it must stop. I think of those that are on fixed budgets and now the Hospital has taken issue with the increase. It has to stop especially when we were but with a 25% increase a few years ago.

Well this is what the Commissioners think. We are rich and have more money than sense You could not be more WRONG. Folks who came here 10-15 years ago on a limited budget are struggling now. We gave business to many companies then who were eager to come and work. Now they wont even answer our calls for repairs and yard work. They are too busy ripping off the "newbies" with bucks to burn.

What can we do to stop this endless tax hikes, any suggestions. !!! If we had better facilities for the money I could accept it but we dont, and the villages is not much better at maintenance either.

[donassaid]

Helps to know what you are talking about. The new Commissioners are talking about raising the impact fees paid by the Develooer, not taxes. The former Commissioners raised taxes by 25% to pay for the roads in the new areas which should have been paid by The Villages Developer. The new guys ran on rolling back this ginormous tax increase. Good on them.

[crash]

I am sorry, but I think the people living in Sumter County should start thinking about recalling the commissioner s in Sumter County.
Why is it so important to them to keep taxing and taxing.
I feel they work for Washington. There comes a point in time that it must stop. I think of those that are on fixed budgets and now the Hospital has taken issue with the increase. It has to stop especially when we were but with a 25% increase a few years ago.

Don’t you realize that an impact fee is not a tax. The developer wanted to build homes on farm land where there weren’t any roads so the county needs to pay to have them built. Should the entire county pay to build them (the 25% increase in everyone’s taxes) or the people who financially benefit (the builder of the homes). You are falling for the developers propaganda machine and are believing what is written in the Daily Sun. You do know the paper is owned by the developer and there is a reason it is called the happy paper.

[Don5154]

I am sorry, but I think the people living in Sumter County should start thinking about recalling the commissioner s in Sumter County.
Why is it so important to them to keep taxing and taxing.
I feel they work for Washington. There comes a point in time that it must stop. I think of those that are on fixed budgets and now the Hospital has taken issue with the increase. It has to stop especially when we were but with a 25% increase a few years ago.

OMG.....you have no idea of what you are talking about . You don’t know the difference between an impact fee vs taxes

[crash]

talking with neighbors today we agree with somehow recalling. I read somewhere Sumter already has the highest impact fees.
Healthcare systems are already stressed and hospital capacity for some has a bed waiting period of one to two days.

What other county is building the amount of roads that Sumter County is building? Also the statement about Sumter County having the highest impact fee is false even the Daily Sun listed other counties that were higher.

The impact fee should be how much does it cost to build the roads divided by the number of homes being built.

Without the roads there would be no homes being built below 44, there would be no need for a hospital down there and our taxes would be 25% less.

[crash]

Well this is what the Commissioners think. We are rich and have more money than sense You could not be more WRONG. Folks who came here 10-15 years ago on a limited budget are struggling now. We gave business to many companies then who were eager to come and work. Now they wont even answer our calls for repairs and yard work. They are too busy ripping off the "newbies" with bucks to burn.

What can we do to stop this endless tax hikes, any suggestions. !!! If we had better facilities for the money I could accept it but we dont, and the villages is not much better at maintenance either.

The commissioners that were just voted in are trying to roll back the tax increase by making the developer pay for the roads being built with their impact fee.

[PennBF]

To understand what is going on with the attempts to get rid of the duly elected Commissioners it is key to recognize that allegedly "The fish gets rotten at the head first". It has never been more appropriate then now. Who is the driver or "head of the fish" that is leading the actions? Why is it going on? Allegedly Who lost and want his/her power and control back by attacking the voters selection? What is his or her motivation? Who are all of the players? Until and unless there is an independent investigation of all of the circumstances surrounding the alleged current attempts at rest power from the Commissioner's nothing will change. :ohdear:

[kappy]

To learn the real facts, not what is published in our local paper or our internet paper, look for the article in the Orlando Sentinel on HB 337. You’ll see how the developer had his employee, who is also a State Legislator, sponsor bill HB 337 that would cap all impact fee increases at 3% in order to foil the new Commissioners.

The hospital was not scheduled to be in Sumter County; it was planned for Lake County. Therefore when the paper or someone tells us that raising impact fees in Sumter County will stop the building of the hospital, they are just spreading more false and misleading information.

[Aloha1]

Because Sumter County is not a charter county, it is impossible to recall the County commissioners. If it were possible, commissioners Gilpin and Breeden would have been recalled last year, when the other developer puppets were voted out of office by a 2 to 1 margin. As you would understand, if you were not relying on the Daily Sun for news, the proposed increase in impact fees is not a tax increase. It will be offset by property tax decrease.

Stop with lies already.

[Aloha1]

The tease by UF regarding moving the hospital site to Lake County would only be a couple miles from it's proposed site in Sumter County, closer for some people a bit further for others but no significant difference except who get's the tax revenue.

Which means, if true, less revenue for Sumter and therefore higher taxes for you.

[Aloha1]

Well this is what the Commissioners think. We are rich and have more money than sense You could not be more WRONG. Folks who came here 10-15 years ago on a limited budget are struggling now. We gave business to many companies then who were eager to come and work. Now they wont even answer our calls for repairs and yard work. They are too busy ripping off the "newbies" with bucks to burn.

What can we do to stop this endless tax hikes, any suggestions. !!! If we had better facilities for the money I could accept it but we dont, and the villages is not much better at maintenance either.
Based on many of your posts, I'm going to make a wild guess that you are just fine with what's going on in Washington right now. Higher taxes?? You voted for them.

[Bogie Shooter]

Well this is what the Commissioners think. We are rich and have more money than sense You could not be more WRONG. Folks who came here 10-15 years ago on a limited budget are struggling now. We gave business to many companies then who were eager to come and work. Now they wont even answer our calls for repairs and yard work. They are too busy ripping off the "newbies" with bucks to burn.

What can we do to stop this endless tax hikes, any suggestions. !!! If we had better facilities for the money I could accept it but we dont, and the villages is not much better at maintenance either.

Wandering rant.........:ohdear:

[dewilson58]

You’ll see how the developer had his employee, who is also a State Legislator, sponsor bill HB 337 that would cap all impact fee increases at 3% in order to foil the new Commissioners.
Get current.......................the bill has been amended.


It's a PROPOSED bill, a majority of legislators must vote for it.

[Proveone]

My understanding of the new commissioners is that they want the tax increase for new roads to be paid for by the builder, businesses and new home buyers NOT the existing residents.

[dewilson58]

Without the roads there would be no homes being built below 44, there would be no need for a hospital down there and our taxes would be 25% less.
FALSE.
Look at the County Budget and you will understand where the dollars are going.

[dewilson58]

Folks who came here 10-15 years ago on a limited budget are struggling now.
Clueless without facts.


If your Folks have been here 15 years, they have incurred NO property tax increase. They should have planned to Cost of Living increases for all expenses. If not, we can not help stupidity.



The 25% increase equates to approximately 1%-2% impact on disposable income........$20 to $30 per month. :ohdear:

[Burgy]

I am sorry, but I think the people living in Sumter County should start thinking about recalling the commissioner s in Sumter County.
Why is it so important to them to keep taxing and taxing.
I feel they work for Washington. There comes a point in time that it must stop. I think of those that are on fixed budgets and now the Hospital has taken issue with the increase. It has to stop especially when we were but with a 25% increase a few years ago.
They championed getting new commissioners but have been very quiet since about these issues.

[mk1126]

Yes, be wary of anything that Corder would write! Just a tool, of Florida, and T.V.

[PennBF]

Let's get real ! There are a lot of Companies, people, Contractors, Florida Government
Reps, etc etc. getting rich because of the Villages. With the kind of money floating around you can be assured a lot are doing anything they can to pick at the orchard of money fruit. Your pocket is part of that orchard. You elected a fine dedicated group of Commissioners to retake some control and now they are being attacked. When your voting booth freedom of choice is being attacked it is time to wake up! Allegedly influence and power and control can be ugly words if used against the citizens rather than for. What are the Florida Statue's governing population and growth like what is happening in The Villages. Are they truly protecting the residents or protecting the one's picking at the money tree? Maybe its time for the Florida Legislature to look at and study the current policies and practices in place and whether they are adquate to protect these Florida Citizens.:ho:

[Jerry Leinsing]

Like the Donald says” tell the same lie over and over again and eventually [the ill informed] people will believe it.
Can’t most of you find other more reliable sources for your information before you jump to conclusions out of ignorance? The Sun and VHA have an agenda besides delivering information. Try voicing your opinion using a Daily Sun “open letter to the editor “.

[Bilyclub]

Which means, if true, less revenue for Sumter and therefore higher taxes for you.

University of Florida are nonprofit hospitals and according to the Sun and the Developer U of F would be the builder of the hospital down South so no taxes anyway.

[Villages Kahuna]

You just have missed the news that State Representative Brett Hage (FL 33) has filed a bill that would limit the amount of impact fees that could be required to be paid by developers to a low single-digit percentage. That probably would shift the cost of roads and infrastructure development in the southern end of The Villages to the taxpayers. The alternative would be that those projects wouldn’t be done and development would slow dramatically. Another alternative is that the Developer would pay for that infrastructure as he has in the past.

Remember, the three new County commissioners who were elected ousted three long-time commissioners, a couple who also worked for TV or their contractors, who were also bought and paid for. They were the ones who voted to increase property taxes by 25%. Their replacements quickly reversed those taxes leading to all the negative news published in The Daily Sun. When you read articles in that publication, remember who owns the paper!

So who is this Representative Hage? His full-time job is working as an executive for the Developer! Last year during 2019, he was paid $141,003 from the Holding Company of The Villages. He also was paid $113,554 from T&D Distribution Inc., $14,410 from T&D Concrete Inc. and $11,000 from T&D Supplies Inc. Altogether about $280,000. That’s what you call an elected politician that’s “bought and paid for”.

[Stu from NYC]

Y

So who is this Representative Hage? His full-time job is working as an executive for the Developer! Last year during 2019, he was paid $141,003 from the Holding Company of The Villages. He also was paid $113,554 from T&D Distribution Inc., $14,410 from T&D Concrete Inc. and $11,000 from T&D Supplies Inc. Altogether about $280,000. That’s what you call an elected politician that’s “bought and paid for”.

Hopefully people remember this when he is next up for election and show him the door

[stebooo]

I just had to stop the paper. Yes I miss it a bit but overall not so much.

[jjombrello]

I would be in favor of recalling the three new ones.

[LG999]

I dont read the Daily Sun, but notice many people think it is a rag, so probably is.

Where should I go for dependable, “honest” news?

[Bogie Shooter]

I dont read the Daily Sun, but notice many people think it is a rag, so probably is.

Where should I go for dependable, “honest” news?

What about those that don’t think it’s a rag?

[NAB20]

The commissioners that were just voted in are trying to roll back the tax increase by making the developer pay for the roads being built with their impact fee.

As it should be.

[Villages Kahuna]

C’ mon folks, think about what we read (“fed to us”) in the Daily Sun).

— The newest three County commissioners ARE the result of recalling three that simply voted any way the Developer wanted. Sumter County residents have already recalled commissioners who they felt had not acted in their best interests. Two more will be up for election in 2020.

With regard to the construction and funding of infrastructure for expanding residential and commercial development...

—-In most communities agreements on what infrastructure is needed and to will pay for it is the result of an arms length negotiation between the government and the Developer. The Developer’s obligation is collected by the Country in the form of an Impact Fee. That has not been possible in Sumter County because the commissioners were all essentially the Developer’s appointees, in almost all cases Developer or contractor employees. So the Developer decided what infrastructure was needed and who would pay for it.

—Normally in residential development the Developer pays for the necessary roads, utilities, etc. and then passes the cost on to residents in the form of an increase in the house prices.

—In The Villages the cost of infrastructure in each “village” is paid for with the proceeds of a municipal bond issued by the Developer and sold to investors. Here in TV that bond is divided equally and becomes the obligation of each home buyer, making the selling price of the home look less expensive, but still passing the cost of the infrastructure on the local homeowners who benefit.

—Until recently the cost of infrastructure needed for more extensive roads and commercial projects was paid for by the Developer and paid for with a portion of the rents collected from commercial tenants.

— A couple years ago the Developer and his “appointed” county commissioners came up with a different idea for paying for new infrastructure in the new southern portions of TV. They increased property taxes on ALL residents of Sumter County, even those 10-15 miles away in the northern end of TV who would almost never use the commercial development in the new southern end of TV.

—Sumter County residents expressed their dissatisfaction with a 25% increase in their property taxes by electing three new commissioners in the 2020 general election. Those new commissioners ran on a promise to roll back that tax increase.

—Three three new commissioners acted on their campaign promise and voted to roll back the tax increase. That is what has resulted in reactions which can easily be tracked back to the Developer, including scheduling public hearings at inconvenient locations, filling the parking lots at public hearings with contractor’s vehicles, all the articles published in The Daily Sun describing how the tax rollback will stall development in TV and put lots of people out of work, a lawsuit asking the new commissioners for their records and communications prior to and after their election, and now the bill recently introduced in the state legislature (by a state rep who is an executive of our Developer) limiting the amount of impact fees required to be paid by developers.

—All that this sturm and drang regarding the new taxes and their rollback does nothing more than re-open the question of what new infrastructure is necessary and who will pay for it?

—Will there be an arm’s length negotiation between the county commissioners and the Developer on what infrastructure is necessary for the planned commercial development, how much the Developer should pay in the form of impact fees, and how much will become the obligation of all the residents of the county.


—The amount paid in impact fees by the Developer would normally be collected in the form of higher commercial rents. If the cost of the commercial development can be passed on to all county residents in the form of increased property taxes, the Developer can either set rents at a lower level and lease up space more quickly, or keep rents high and increase his profit margins.

—Will the pace of commercial development slow or stop in the southern end of TV? If the Developer refuses to pay for such infrastructure as he has in the past, maybe so. If the increased property taxes are reinstated, the Developer can proceed at the high pace he desires, maintaining or even increasing his profits to the extent he can pass development costs on to residents in the form of property taxes..

The Villages Developer has as acted in a way which benefits his interests as he should. Now the question becomes will the residents of Sumter County require their elected County commissioners to protect resident’s interests? If new commercial development really will benefit the county (in the form of new tax revenues from new businesses as an example), it might be justified to require all county residents to pay for a portion of the construction of the new roads, utilities, and other new commercial infrastructure.

As individuals what we should all make the effort to become aware of needs, plans and costs of continued development in The Villages and decide what’s in it for us? Then we should elect representatives who will represent us and protect our interests. But it all starts with residents taking the time and seeking the sources of information so they can make decisions on who they choose to represent them on the Sumter County Commission.

[Stu from NYC]

C’ mon folks, think about what we read (“fed to us”) in the Daily Sun).

— The newest three County commissioners ARE the result of recalling three that simply voted any way the Developer wanted. Sumter County residents have already recalled commissioners who they felt had not acted in their best interests. Two more will be up for election in 2020.

With regard to the construction and funding of infrastructure for expanding residential and commercial development...

—-In most communities agreements on what infrastructure is needed and to will pay for it is the result of an arms length negotiation between the government and the Developer. The Developer’s obligation is collected by the Country in the form of an Impact Fee. That has not been possible in Sumter County because the commissioners were all essentially the Developer’s appointees, in almost all cases Developer or contractor employees. So the Developer decided what infrastructure was needed and who would pay for it.

—Normally in residential development the Developer pays for the necessary roads, utilities, etc. and then passes the cost on to residents in the form of an increase in the house prices.

—In The Villages the cost of infrastructure in each “village” is paid for with the proceeds of a municipal bond issued by the Developer and sold to investors. Here in TV that bond is divided equally and becomes the obligation of each home buyer, making the selling price of the home look less expensive, but still passing the cost of the infrastructure on the local homeowners who benefit.

—Until recently the cost of infrastructure needed for more extensive roads and commercial projects was paid for by the Developer and paid for with a portion of the rents collected from commercial tenants.

— A couple years ago the Developer and his “appointed” county commissioners came up with a different idea for paying for new infrastructure in the new southern portions of TV. They increased property taxes on ALL residents of Sumter County, even those 10-15 miles away in the northern end of TV who would almost never use the commercial development in the new southern end of TV.

—Sumter County residents expressed their dissatisfaction with a 25% increase in their property taxes by electing three new commissioners in the 2020 general election. Those new commissioners ran on a promise to roll back that tax increase.

—Three three new commissioners acted on their campaign promise and voted to roll back the tax increase. That is what has resulted in reactions which can easily be tracked back to the Developer, including scheduling public hearings at inconvenient locations, filling the parking lots at public hearings with contractor’s vehicles, all the articles published in The Daily Sun describing how the tax rollback will stall development in TV and put lots of people out of work, a lawsuit asking the new commissioners for their records and communications prior to and after their election, and now the bill recently introduced in the state legislature (by a state rep who is an executive of our Developer) limiting the amount of impact fees required to be paid by developers.

—All that this sturm and drang regarding the new taxes and their rollback does nothing more than re-open the question of what new infrastructure is necessary and who will pay for it?

—Will there be an arm’s length negotiation between the county commissioners and the Developer on what infrastructure is necessary for the planned commercial development, how much the Developer should pay in the form of impact fees, and how much will become the obligation of all the residents of the county.


—The amount paid in impact fees by the Developer would normally be collected in the form of higher commercial rents. If the cost of the commercial development can be passed on to all county residents in the form of increased property taxes, the Developer can either set rents at a lower level and lease up space more quickly, or keep rents high and increase his profit margins.

—Will the pace of commercial development slow or stop in the southern end of TV? If the Developer refuses to pay for such infrastructure as he has in the past, maybe so. If the increased property taxes are reinstated, the Developer can proceed at the high pace he desires, maintaining or even increasing his profits to the extent he can pass development costs on to residents in the form of property taxes..

The Villages Developer has as acted in a way which benefits his interests as he should. Now the question becomes will the residents of Sumter County require their elected County commissioners to protect resident’s interests? If new commercial development really will benefit the county (in the form of new tax revenues from new businesses as an example), it might be justified to require all county residents to pay for a portion of the construction of the new roads, utilities, and other new commercial infrastructure.

As individuals what we should all make the effort to become aware of needs, plans and costs of continued development in The Villages and decide what’s in it for us? Then we should elect representatives who will represent us and protect our interests. But it all starts with residents taking the time and seeking the sources of information so they can make decisions on who they choose to represent them on the Sumter County Commission.

Very well said.

[Rsenholzi]

You are totally wrong. The developers impact fees are the lowest in all of Fl, and not by a little. Their impact fees are under $1000 when the next lowest is over $6000! In fact, the report that brings the impact fees up to a little over $2,000 is over 2 years old! They next to raise them to what the report says and then have another study done, so the developer pays the real rate. Our taxes have already gone up 25% for the roads, and now they want to triple the fire rate. What’s next on the list of taxes to be raised ? We are on fixed incomes , and we are absorbing the fees that the developer should be paying for all the new services that are required for the homes they are building. We paid a huge bond for these services already that went to the developer and now they want us to absorb even more

[Two Bills]

I found this web page very interesting.
A breakdown of road impact fees for Sumter County.
Some of the totals are substantial!

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

[Advogado]

You just have missed the news that State Representative Brett Hage (FL 33) has filed a bill that would limit the amount of impact fees that could be required to be paid by developers to a low single-digit percentage. That probably would shift the cost of roads and infrastructure development in the southern end of The Villages to the taxpayers. The alternative would be that those projects wouldn’t be done and development would slow dramatically. Another alternative is that the Developer would pay for that infrastructure as he has in the past.

Remember, the three new County commissioners who were elected ousted three long-time commissioners, a couple who also worked for TV or their contractors, who were also bought and paid for. They were the ones who voted to increase property taxes by 25%. Their replacements quickly reversed those taxes leading to all the negative news published in The Daily Sun. When you read articles in that publication, remember who owns the paper!

So who is this Representative Hage? His full-time job is working as an executive for the Developer! Last year during 2019, he was paid $141,003 from the Holding Company of The Villages. He also was paid $113,554 from T&D Distribution Inc., $14,410 from T&D Concrete Inc. and $11,000 from T&D Supplies Inc. Altogether about $280,000. That’s what you call an elected politician that’s “bought and paid for”.

http://www.ethics.state.fl.us/Documents/Forms/Complaint%20Form.PDF?cp=2020913

[PennBF]

A question is when does something cross the line in providing financials to gain an advantage? Can someone/company provide money to ensure a positive vote if the person
has significant influence in the outcome of the action? At one point does contributions
become illegal? Just questions as I have no idea about any of the answers?

[Aloha1]

University of Florida are nonprofit hospitals and according to the Sun and the Developer U of F would be the builder of the hospital down South so no taxes anyway.

It would still be in Sumter County.

[Topspinmo]

At first I found it amusing how each article was written by the "commander of the cannons" at the Daily Sun, writer David Corder. Each repeated over and over a salvo of shots at the three new commissioners. Now, I find it annoying.

It is also very annoying to see Corder attempt to convince us that he is an expert writer. Here is what I mean.

At the end of many Daily sun articles, there is a brief description of the article's author. Normally it looks like this, "Senior writer John Doe can be reached at 352-753-1234, ext. 1234, or john.doe@thevillagesmedia.com."

After articles written by David Corder, we see this, "Specialty Editor David R. Corder is a 2021 finalist for the Lucy B. Morgan Award for In-depth Reporting. His coverage of government and economic news has earned numerous honors from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Florida Society of News Editors, the Florida Press Club and the Florida Press Association. He can be reached at David.Corder@thevillagesmedia.com or 352-753-1119 ext 5241."

Pu-leez, Mr. Corder. Give it a rest!

Funny thing about finalists there can be lots of them, but at end of day they are looser.

[Stu from NYC]

A question is when does something cross the line in providing financials to gain an advantage? Can someone/company provide money to ensure a positive vote if the person
has significant influence in the outcome of the action? At one point does contributions
become illegal? Just questions as I have no idea about any of the answers?

Morally he leaves a lot to be desired

[Advogado]

I would be in favor of recalling the three new ones.




In Sumter County, the Commissioners cannot be recalled.

If that were possible, Developer puppets Gilpin and Breeden would have been recalled last year when we, the voters, tossed out the three other Developer puppets IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY by a 2-to-1 margin.

[Northwoods]

Helps to know what you are talking about. The new Commissioners are talking about raising the impact fees paid by the Develooer, not taxes. The former Commissioners raised taxes by 25% to pay for the roads in the new areas which should have been paid by The Villages Developer. The new guys ran on rolling back this ginormous tax increase. Good on them.
Actually increased impact fees are paid for any new construction. Yes, it impacts The Developer, but it equally impacts any new construction in Sumter County.
You want a new restaurant south of 44? They will now pay more to build that restaurant.
I live south of 466A and we are starving for restaurants, "big box" businesses (I'd love a Target!!! ), etc.
Unfortunately, now, it will be more expensive for any new business to build in Sumter County.

[Advogado]

Actually increased impact fees are paid for any new construction. Yes, it impacts The Developer, but it equally impacts any new construction in Sumter County.
You want a new restaurant south of 44? They will now pay more to build that restaurant.
I live south of 466A and we are starving for restaurants, "big box" businesses (I'd love a Target!!! ), etc.
Unfortunately, now, it will be more expensive for any new business to build in Sumter County.
Some thoughts for you:
>Building costs are amortized over the life of your hypothetical restaurant and are a very small part of total costs. The higher impact fee will not dissuade anybody from building.
>In addition, the higher impact fee will be offset with lower property taxes, which are the objective of raising the impact fee. The prospective investor will realize this.
>We have been subsidizing the Developer's massive expansion of The Villages, which resulted in our property taxes being raised 25% while the Developer's sweetheart impact fee remained unchanged. We, the residents of Sumter County, got fed up with this, and we booted out three of the Developer's puppet Commissioners by a 2-to-1 margin in last year's election. Next year, we will boot out the remaining two.

[PennBF]

Allegedly, at what point does paying a Government Official to vote in a certain way become bribery or fraud and if there are more person's involved when does it become a
RICO violation? :ohdear:

[Advogado]

Allegedly, at what point does paying a Government Official to vote in a certain way become bribery or fraud and if there are more person's involved when does it become a
RICO violation? :ohdear:


It is a very thin line, and it may have been crossed here. As a starter, concerned citizens can file an ethics complaint here: http://www.ethics.state.fl.us/Documents/Forms/Complaint%20Form.PDF?cp=2020913

[PAPO]

I am a future villager I’m not retired yet I should be up there within the year and I do read the Daily Sun what is another good newspaper to get information that isn’t so biased

[j_vermilya]

IMHO: the raising of the impact fees was necessary, and I believe part of the plan of the new commissioners so that the huge 25% property tax increase can be rolled back. i say thank you to all 3 of the new commissioners!

[Bill14564]

I am a future villager I’m not retired yet I should be up there within the year and I do read the Daily Sun what is another good newspaper to get information that isn’t so biased

This link (https://www.**************.com/) will take you to one that is biased in the other direction.
EDIT: I didn't realize the site name would be censored even in the URL tag. I will DM you the site

And this paper (https://www.tampabay.com/), while not centered on the Villages, provides some useful information in our general area.