10QV – Episode 3 – Sumter County Roadway Impact Fees – Bradley Arnold Interview

[Goldwingnut]

In the latest episode of 10QV I talk with Mr. Bradley Arnold, the Sumter County Administrator, about the Sumter County Roadway Impact Fee. The Roadway Impact Fee has received a lot of attention and press in the last year. If there’s a topic that can divide Sumter County, this is likely it. Unfortunately, a lot of the information and opinions propagated on social media are either mis-informed or sometimes just outright wrong. This episode attempts to bring factual information to the table for all to hear and understand. With the facts in hand, one can make an informed decision.

I’m not taking a position one way or the other on the topic in this video, this is simply a look at what the Fee really is, how it’s funded, what it’s used for, and what it’s not used for.

10QV – Episode 3 – Road Impact Fees – Bradley Arnold - YouTube (https://youtu.be/tASXe7WMzO8)

[stings]

Another informative video. Hopefully this information will help people understand this “issue” going forward. Thanks again.

[Jim 9922]

Real facts and a straight forward explanation of the use of the impact fees is refreshing. Don, too bad you don't own a few national level newspapers, or maybe even The Daily Sun. Real facts, honest reporting and significant news being reported on succinctly and without slant; what a change that would be.
Thanks for producing the "10 Question" series.

[Laker14]

thank you, sir.

[Goldwingnut]

Real facts and a straight forward explanation of the use of the impact fees is refreshing. Don, too bad you don't own a few national level newspapers, or maybe even The Daily Sun. Real facts, honest reporting and significant news being reported on succinctly and without slant; what a change that would be.
Thanks for producing the "10 Question" series.

Thanks, I guess after 4 years of journalism training, something did stick. It's a shame that they don't teach the basics and that "the story isn't about you" anymore.

[Velvet]

Thank you for this video. A question I would have liked to ask is why the roads with congestion around Lake Sumter Landing, for example, have shown no improvement although our property taxes there went up. They have not been widened, there were no lights put in or other measures to improve safety and traffic flow. Why is the money that was raised not put to use on the area where it was raised (and continues to be) from?

And … there are significant potholes, like at Murphy’s Estate and Odell Circle, I am worried about hitting it with the golf cart. But I guess the pot hole falls under maintenance not improvements.

[dewilson58]

The Roadway Impact Fee has received a lot of attention and press in the last year.

Hardly noticed.

:1rotfl:

[J1ceasar]

Well I don't live in Sumter but I do ride through there so I guess it does affect me. My real concern is why the state legislature allows somebody to enter into law and vote on a law while he's getting paid by a large company that will be affected by this law? Are there no ethics laws for the state, this is not a political comment this is strictly one about ethics and how shameful this person must feel when he goes to bed at night

[J1ceasar]

I have to laugh when people don't understand how the government is stealing 50 extra million dollars every year from the people of Sumter instead of properly having infrastructure taxes that new residents will pay. It's not just an extra 20% this year it's an extra 20% every year for the future money out of your pockets that could go towards your lifestyle or your children's life.

[Two Bills]

Well I don't live in Sumter but I do ride through there so I guess it does affect me. My real concern is why the state legislature allows somebody to enter into law and vote on a law while he's getting paid by a large company that will be affected by this law? Are there no ethics laws for the state, this is not a political comment this is strictly one about ethics and how shameful this person must feel when he goes to bed at night

I reckon he checks his bank balance, and sleeps a straight eight hours!

[dewilson58]

Well I don't live in Sumter but I do ride through there so I guess it does affect me.

As usual, wrong again................The Road Impact Fee does not affect you.

[dewilson58]

I have to laugh when people don't understand how the government is stealing 50 extra million dollars every year from the people of Sumter instead of properly having infrastructure taxes that new residents will pay.

Another uninformed, uneducated post. :ohdear:

I laugh at people who don't live in TV or Sumter County and post on this site.

[Bogie Shooter]

Another uninformed, uneducated post. :ohdear:

I laugh at people who don't live in TV or Sumter County and post on this site.

But, things are great down in Pembroke.......

[RayAmb]

I view Mr. Arnold (County Manager) as being in over his head at this stage of Sumter County’s growth. He was behind the power curve with COVID and has not given the Commission the available options to the road impact fee. Unfortunate for all involved.

I say this from experience ( voting member of the MPO, Tri County League of Cities and several more positions pertaining to impact fees). He won’t listen ,,,, just gets defensive. Ask yourself why?

[kappy]

As usual, wrong again................The Road Impact Fee does not affect you.
It does effect me and every Sumter County taxpayer every year when we pay our taxes that were increased 25% because the developer did not want an increase in the impact fees, which are a one time fee.

[dewilson58]

It does effect me and every Sumter County taxpayer every year when we pay our taxes that were increased 25% because the developer did not want an increase in the impact fees, which are a one time fee.

Dude, read the post................the poster does not live in Sumter County, just drives thru.

:ohdear:

[drcar41@aol.com]

Thanks, Don. As always, very enlightening. If more people would take the time to listen to your videos, many of the "urban myths" surrounding "The Villages" would cause a bit less "stir".

[Mleeja]

I have to laugh when people don't understand how the government is stealing 50 extra million dollars every year from the people of Sumter instead of properly having infrastructure taxes that new residents will pay. It's not just an extra 20% this year it's an extra 20% every year for the future money out of your pockets that could go towards your lifestyle or your children's life.

Obviously did not watch the video.

[Mleeja]

Thanks Don. Very informative video.

[Stu from NYC]

Well I don't live in Sumter but I do ride through there so I guess it does affect me. My real concern is why the state legislature allows somebody to enter into law and vote on a law while he's getting paid by a large company that will be affected by this law? Are there no ethics laws for the state, this is not a political comment this is strictly one about ethics and how shameful this person must feel when he goes to bed at night

Not totally sure what is actually correct but there was a huge conflict of interest here. Both sides should have been able to come to a compromise on the fees

No way would I vote for the guy when he runs for reelection in a couple of years.

[EviesGP]

Another informative interview would've been welcomed when the 25% tax increase was planned and imposed?! Just sayin...

[Goldwingnut]

Another informative interview would've been welcomed when the 25% tax increase was planned and imposed?! Just sayin...

Unfortunately, I wasn't doing the interviews back then.

Interesting that you make the comment. Based on the poor turnout to the Budget Workshop that was held yesterday, no one appears interested in getting the 25% increase rolled back, including the 3 county commissioners that campaigned so hard against it and promised to roll it back. Reality sucks when you must make the tough decisions on what to cut from the budget, something these 3 have no backbone for.

I wonder if any of the 3 will have the integrity to standup and say publicly that they were "wrong", they had no idea what they were talking about, and that they cannot deliver on their campaign rhetoric. I doubt it.

I made it a point not to take sides during the video, my agenda is to educate with factual information not my personal opinions (a bit of old school journalism), it's about the facts, not about me and what I think or feel.

However, in an open forum like this I have no problem expressing my displeasure with some members of the current BOCC. The newly elected commissioners have proven themselves to Masters of Manipulating Social Media and tax-and-spend democrats, nothing more. What have any of them done since being in office to improve the lives of anyone or business environment in Sumter County? I've seen nothing, I expect even less in the future.

[dewilson58]

Unfortunately, I wasn't doing the interviews back then.

Interesting that you make the comment. Based on the poor turnout to the Budget Workshop that was held yesterday, no one appears interested in getting the 25% increase rolled back, including the 3 county commissioners that campaigned so hard against it and promised to roll it back. Reality sucks when you must make the tough decisions on what to cut from the budget, something these 3 have no backbone for.

I wonder if any of the 3 will have the integrity to standup and say publicly that they were "wrong", they had no idea what they were talking about, and that they cannot deliver on their campaign rhetoric. I doubt it.

I made it a point not to take sides during the video, my agenda is to educate with factual information not my personal opinions (a bit of old school journalism), it's about the facts, not about me and what I think or feel.

However, in an open forum like this I have no problem expressing my displeasure with some members of the current BOCC. The newly elected commissioners have proven themselves to Masters of Manipulating Social Media and tax-and-spend democrats, nothing more. What have any of them done since being in office to improve the lives of anyone or business environment in Sumter County? I've seen nothing, I expect even less in the future.


:boom:

[Bill14564]

Unfortunately, I wasn't doing the interviews back then.

Interesting that you make the comment. Based on the poor turnout to the Budget Workshop that was held yesterday, no one appears interested in getting the 25% increase rolled back, including the 3 county commissioners that campaigned so hard against it and promised to roll it back. Reality sucks when you must make the tough decisions on what to cut from the budget, something these 3 have no backbone for.

I wonder if any of the 3 will have the integrity to standup and say publicly that they were "wrong", they had no idea what they were talking about, and that they cannot deliver on their campaign rhetoric. I doubt it.

I made it a point not to take sides during the video, my agenda is to educate with factual information not my personal opinions (a bit of old school journalism), it's about the facts, not about me and what I think or feel.

However, in an open forum like this I have no problem expressing my displeasure with some members of the current BOCC. The newly elected commissioners have proven themselves to Masters of Manipulating Social Media and tax-and-spend democrats, nothing more. What have any of them done since being in office to improve the lives of anyone or business environment in Sumter County? I've seen nothing, I expect even less in the future.

Over-promise then under-perform - it's the American way.

I can forgive someone for not being fully aware of the complexities of a job they have not yet stepped into. And I can certainly understand finding yourself outnumbered and outmaneuvered. But it is more difficult to understand doing little or nothing. Yes, they put an effort towards their one goal, but there is more to running the county than just the one issue.

[dewilson58]

Over-promise then under-perform

I was/am surprised that an age matured county would vote on emotion and no experience. :ohdear:

[Velvet]

The people voted with their wallets… as in most places.

[dewilson58]

The people voted with their wallets… as in most places.

That's the funny part...............the three dudes had NO PLAN, they had NO IDEA how to help the wallets. :1rotfl:

[Ben Franklin]

Thanks for the video. I'm not sure I understood the states responsibility. If 301 has already been widened, then it's years behind the actual growth rate from Warm Springs Rd to at least Rt 44 with a fly-over at 301 for Rt 44. If they are out of money, then they aren't collecting enough, (FL gas tax rate is 38 cents a gallon) and anyone taking those roads has to suffer through the traffic. And then there is Rt 466 and Rolling Acres Ln. Even though that area is outside TV land, it is impacted by TV people. Not only should Rolling Acres road have been widened years ago, a fly-over is also need at that intersection, unless one doesn't mind waiting for 3 lights to change in season and 2 lights to change in off-season. Shouldn't areas just on the outskirts of TV be figured into any calculations, when planning more homes, or are those roads an after the fact thought and who pays for them? Lots of times, through lack of proper planning, or turning one's back to what is needed, roads are obsolete by the time they are built.

[Goldwingnut]

Thanks for the video. I'm not sure I understood the states responsibility. If 301 has already been widened, then it's years behind the actual growth rate from Warm Springs Rd to at least Rt 44 with a fly-over at 301 for Rt 44. If they are out of money, then they aren't collecting enough, (FL gas tax rate is 38 cents a gallon) and anyone taking those roads has to suffer through the traffic. And then there is Rt 466 and Rolling Acres Ln. Even though that area is outside TV land, it is impacted by TV people. Not only should Rolling Acres road have been widened years ago, a fly-over is also need at that intersection, unless one doesn't mind waiting for 3 lights to change in season and 2 lights to change in off-season. Shouldn't areas just on the outskirts of TV be figured into any calculations, when planning more homes, or are those roads an after the fact thought and who pays for them? Lots of times, through lack of proper planning, or turning one's back to what is needed, roads are obsolete by the time they are built.
Warm springs to 44 is in the planning stages with the 301 Coleman bypass.

Rolling Acres is in Lake county, how would you justify Sumter County taxpayers paying to upgrade Lake County roads? Not a Sumter County problem.

Sumter County is planning ahead for growth, hence the regional road agreement. They have no say in how Lake County planning is done. Lake is definitely profiting from the growth of the villages with minimal investment, they seem to be enjoying the free ride on the gravy train.

[NoMo50]

Warm springs to 44 is in the planning stages with the 301 Coleman bypass.

Rolling Acres is in Lake county, how would you justify Sumter County taxpayers paying to upgrade Lake County roads? Not a Sumter County problem.

Sumter County is planning ahead for growth, hence the regional road agreement. They have no say in how Lake County planning is done. Lake is definitely profiting from the growth of the villages with minimal investment, they seem to be enjoying the free ride on the gravy train.
Make that a gravy train with biscuit wheels!

[Goldwingnut]

Thank you for this video. A question I would have liked to ask is why the roads with congestion around Lake Sumter Landing, for example, have shown no improvement although our property taxes there went up. They have not been widened, there were no lights put in or other measures to improve safety and traffic flow. Why is the money that was raised not put to use on the area where it was raised (and continues to be) from?

And … there are significant potholes, like at Murphy’s Estate and Odell Circle, I am worried about hitting it with the golf cart. But I guess the pot hole falls under maintenance not improvements.

Where would you like to expand the roads in LSL, replace the sidewalks? There is no room. The rest of the outlying roads are also limited on expansion, how close would you like one built to your house.

Road resurfacing is done on a schedule for most residential areas, unless there is an emergency or significant safety issue, then it addressed much quicker. Yes, this is maintenance and not improvements.

Only using tax money where it is raised? Pretty shallow thinking and not the way the system works. Why not just use a bill-as-you-go system, so when they repave your street you and your neighbors will get the bill for a fifty or sixty thousand to split among yourselves and the rest of us don't have to pay for it, after all it's not our street it's yours.

[Velvet]

Yes, but the property tax was raised without the homeowner’s support. I was trying to justify it by giving them something in return. No matter how it is labeled I still hear it as enforced charity.