Goldwingnut
08-07-2022, 09:28 PM
OK, my detailed explanation was a little long and confusing for some, here’s the short version.
An independent fire district for The Villages will allow residents to have better control over the services to be provided by VPSD without having to go through the county for funding.
Sumter County is working to determine the total cost of both fire departments in the county general fund budget. This will be removed from next year’s budget and the property tax millage rate will be reduced accordingly. This prevents double taxing for the same services.
Both fire districts will then establish a Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) and add that to your county tax bill.
Both fire departments currently have similar sized budgets. Each budget will be paid only by the residents the departments serve. SCFD services about 20% of the county proprieties and VPSD services about 80% of the properties. Based on similar budgets and the split of the properties it is safe to assume that the total tax bill for VPSD served customers would decrease significantly and those served by SCFD will see a significant increase in total tax bill.
Villages district staff can’t predict with the county will do so they won’t commit to the final tax bill impact. Sumter County is working to fully identify all shared service costs that must be included in the SCFD budget and cannot make a millage rate commitment until the end of year property values and millage rates are determined in June 2023.
That’s the summary in just over 200 words. Hope it helps.
Here’s the long version - https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/independent-fire-district-cost-impact-information-333737/
An independent fire district for The Villages will allow residents to have better control over the services to be provided by VPSD without having to go through the county for funding.
Sumter County is working to determine the total cost of both fire departments in the county general fund budget. This will be removed from next year’s budget and the property tax millage rate will be reduced accordingly. This prevents double taxing for the same services.
Both fire districts will then establish a Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) and add that to your county tax bill.
Both fire departments currently have similar sized budgets. Each budget will be paid only by the residents the departments serve. SCFD services about 20% of the county proprieties and VPSD services about 80% of the properties. Based on similar budgets and the split of the properties it is safe to assume that the total tax bill for VPSD served customers would decrease significantly and those served by SCFD will see a significant increase in total tax bill.
Villages district staff can’t predict with the county will do so they won’t commit to the final tax bill impact. Sumter County is working to fully identify all shared service costs that must be included in the SCFD budget and cannot make a millage rate commitment until the end of year property values and millage rates are determined in June 2023.
That’s the summary in just over 200 words. Hope it helps.
Here’s the long version - https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/independent-fire-district-cost-impact-information-333737/