The Developers helping out

[kcrazorbackfan]

I guess you folks now can quit damning The Developer now that they donated $2 million of their money towards CDD’s 14/15 maintenance fees assessment increase.

What’s your next topic?

[Topspinmo]

Chicken feed. If they are donating means they got out of something?

[Bill14564]

I guess you folks now can quit damning The Developer now that they donated $2 million of their money towards CDD’s 14/15 maintenance fees assessment increase.

What’s your next topic?

1. Haven't seen the article or the details about that; where do I find more info?
2. Did they donate $2M or was that their calculated share of the CDD15 fee for the unsold properties?
3. If a donation then that's really nice but just kicks the can 12 months down the road

[kcrazorbackfan]

1. Haven't seen the article or the details about that; where do I find more info?
2. Did they donate $2M or was that their calculated share of the CDD15 fee for the unsold properties?
3. If a donation then that's really nice but just kicks the can 12 months down the road

In today's Village Sun.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I guess you folks now can quit damning The Developer now that they donated $2 million of their money towards CDD’s 14/15 maintenance fees assessment increase.

What’s your next topic?

How much does that come to, per unit? Compare with how much the per-unit expense was expected to be without the donation?

(I am sincere in my question, I don't know the answer and I'm hoping someone can answer it.)

[Mass288]

I guess you folks now can quit damning The Developer now that they donated $2 million of their money towards CDD’s 14/15 maintenance fees assessment increase.

What’s your next topic? Hi still new here. Wasn't there a thread talking about the fee..looking for other views but I can't seem to find it any longer...was it removed ??

[Keefelane66]

Just helping sell their inventory some people won’t figure it out they’ll gain more than the outlay…

[Altavia]

Hi still new here. Wasn't there a thread talking about the fee..looking for other views but I can't seem to find it any longer...was it removed ??

Here's one:

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/maintenance-assessment-increases-live-discussion-3-00-pm-sunday-352055/

[Bill14564]

In today's Village Sun.

Not something I will see then. Maybe it will be reported elsewhere, perhaps the minutes of the next CDD14 meeting.

[Stu from NYC]

I trust there is more to their donation than just being generous. Truth one way or the other will come out.

[Aces4]

I guess you folks now can quit damning The Developer now that they donated $2 million of their money towards CDD’s 14/15 maintenance fees assessment increase.

What’s your next topic?

I think your wrong in your assessment. I'd complain also if a bill that size was dropped in my lap shortly after I purchased a home here,

[tophcfa]

Hmmm, an article in a newspaper promoting an action taken by the owner of the newspaper. Now there’s a surprise! Logic would dictate that the “donation” would appear much more sincere if it was going towards helping residents in a district where new homes aren’t being sold.

[Happydaz]

I guess you folks now can quit damning The Developer now that they donated $2 million of their money towards CDD’s 14/15 maintenance fees assessment increase.

What’s your next topic?

Without the pushback by residents of CDD’s 14/15 the developer may not have contributed the $2,000,000.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Here's a cut and paste....

Who owns the Daily Sun. Yeah, thats what i thought!

[asianthree]

Here's a cut and paste....

Who owns the Daily Sun. Yeah, thats what i thought!

Since it has always been common knowledge since we came in 2007, on who owns the Sun.
Got any important news on the donation, and what criteria for how it will effect 14 & 15

[Bogie Shooter]

Since it has always been common knowledge since we came in 2007, on who owns the Sun.
Got any important news on the donation, and what criteria for how it will effect 14 & 15

It’s all there in the Sun article.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Since it has always been common knowledge since we came in 2007, on who owns the Sun.
Got any important news on the donation, and what criteria for how it will effect 14 & 15

Not everybody has been here since 2007!

I'm waiting for the more knowledgeable....and credible to post on where the 2M is earmarked to and who, if anyone, in the district's (noticeably) benefits from it

[BrianL99]

For whatever it's worth, I can't find anything online about the donation. I can't find it on the newspapers site, nor on the District's site.


I'm sure the apparently $2,000,000 "donation" has benefits of some sort to the Developer. That's just common sense.

If the Developer is simply interested in public relations and this is simply a token of his largesse, I don't believe it. There would be much better ways to generate goodwill, than subsidizing the budget of (2) isolated CDD's.

I'm sure most of the story will soon come to light and everyone will have a better idea what's behind it.

[Shipping up to Boston]

For whatever it's worth, I can't find anything online about the donation. I can't find it on the newspapers site, nor on the District's site.


I'm sure the apparently $2,000,000 "donation" has benefits of some sort to the Developer. That's just common sense.

If the Developer is simply interested in public relations and this is simply a token of his largesse, I don't believe it. There would be much better ways to generate goodwill, than subsidizing the budget of (2) isolated CDD's.

I'm sure most of the story will soon come to light and everyone will have a better idea what's behind it.

Interesting. Our link obsessed membership fails to attach one to this story

[Bogie Shooter]

Not sure how this might or might not work.
This from Daily Sun today.

[Bill14564]

Interesting. Our link obsessed membership fails to attach one to this story

As far as I can tell, The Villages Daily Sun does not have a real online presence. Yes, they have a page that appears to have articles but not the entire content of the printed version and the articles that do have links are really just teasers with a short intro and then:
Read this story and many others in Sunday's edition of the Daily Sun.

Even if our link obsessed membership wanted to attach one, there is none to attach.

[Shipping up to Boston]

As far as I can tell, The Villages Daily Sun does not have a real online presence. Yes, they have a page that appears to have articles but not the entire content of the printed version and the articles that do have links are really just teasers with a short intro and then:
Read this story and many others in Sunday's edition of the Daily Sun.

Even if our link obsessed membership wanted to attach one, there is none to attach.

You know how well hearsay plays on here!

[Bill14564]

Not sure how this might or might not work.
This from Daily Sun today.

Nice. So it looks like it might be a donation for this year which will let the new rates take effect over two years.

[Bill14564]

You know how well hearsay plays on here!

I have a suspicion about the lack of a true online presence: I was told long ago, "if it isn't written down it didn't happen."

[BrianL99]

Not sure how this might or might not work.
This from Daily Sun today.


It works, thank you

So I have one question that I thought I knew the answer to ... but might not.

Bottom paragraph, Page 1: "After reviewing the amount of new infrastructure turned over, compared with the number of new people moving into the District .... "

How does that make a difference? If I'm not mistaken, the Developer pays the maintenance fee on unsold lots, so how many people moving in, shouldn't be relevant ... should it?

[golfing eagles]

I guess you folks now can quit damning The Developer now that they donated $2 million of their money towards CDD’s 14/15 maintenance fees assessment increase.

What’s your next topic?

I think the next 24 posts answered that question 😂😂😂

[Marathon Man]

I guess you folks now can quit damning The Developer now that they donated $2 million of their money towards CDD’s 14/15 maintenance fees assessment increase.

What’s your next topic?

Well, it was a nice try. But the kind of hatred that we see around here will take much more than this to relieve. It could have been 20 million and the comments would be the same.

[Bogie Shooter]

Well, it was a nice try. But the kind of hatred that we see around here will take much more than this to relieve. It could have been 20 million and the comments would be the same.

Unfortunately you are right.

[Bill14564]

It works, thank you

So I have one question that I thought I knew the answer to ... but might not.

Bottom paragraph, Page 1: "After reviewing the amount of new infrastructure turned over, compared with the number of new people moving into the District .... "

How does that make a difference? If I'm not mistaken, the Developer pays the maintenance fee on unsold lots, so how many people moving in, shouldn't be relevant ... should it?

The maintenance fee schedules for CDD14 and CDD15 make it look as though each of the 6,800 properties are being assessed the fee.

The meaning of the quote isn't exactly clear so maybe we are both misinterpreting it.

[BigDawgInLakeDenham]

I live in 14. Out of the blue my cdd maintainace fee goes from about $500 to about $1000. A meeting with district was scheduled and an alleged bailout was announced the morning of the meeting. This alleged 2 point something bailout from doubling my maintenance bill to only 25% increase is a hard pill to swallow. I can't help but feel I'm paying for their over extending themselves on the west side of the Turnpike because it's a very very huge wasteland of unsold properties that they are sinking billions into. They might be taking advantage of the late boomer/Millenials down here that go with the flow and just think government waste is something they should normally absorb....only saying because that's what I've heard them say here. The Developer lost points with me with this blindside tactic. Doubt I will "move 3 times"

[Bill14564]

I live in 14. Out of the blue my cdd maintainace fee goes from about $500 to about $1000. A meeting with district was scheduled and an alleged bailout was announced the morning of the meeting. This alleged 2 point something bailout from doubling my maintenance bill to only 25% increase is a hard pill to swallow. I can't help but feel I'm paying for their over extending themselves on the west side of the Turnpike because it's a very very huge wasteland of unsold properties that they are sinking billions into. They might be taking advantage of the late boomer/Millenials down here that go with the flow and just think government waste is something they should normally absorb....only saying because that's what I've heard them say here. The Developer lost points with me with this blindside tactic. Doubt I will "move 3 times"

This has nothing to do with the Developer or unsold lots. Please take the time to watch the presentation linked above to learn how this maintenance fee works and where the increase is coming from.

[Stu from NYC]

Well, it was a nice try. But the kind of hatred that we see around here will take much more than this to relieve. It could have been 20 million and the comments would be the same.

The developer has done a great job building this place but he is a businessman first.

[Altavia]

Not sure how this might or might not work.
This from Daily Sun today.

Thanks! Screen scraped the text below:


The Developer will pay an additional $1.8 million to the Eastport CDD through the Eastport Maintenance Advisory Committee and $200,000 to the Middleton Downtown CDD through the Middleton Maintenance
Advisory Committee.

The extra contribution will allow for the number of households in each of the districts to catch up to the amount of new infrastructure being turned over to the districts for maintenance, Blocker said.

The original proposed budget for CDD 14, which includes the villages of Newell, Lake Denham and Dabney, included $2.4 million in maintenance assessments, an increase of $864,000.

The maintenance assessment for Middleton residents was originally budgeted at about $2.1 million, an increase of $480,000.

Residents in CDD 15, which includes the villages of Moultrie Creek and Shady Brook as well as future villages of Well Point, Waters Edge, Lakeside, Edenfield, Oak Hollow and LaGrange, will be paying a maintenance assessment for the first time on their tax bills this year.

The final budgets for all community development districts will be approved following public hearings in September.

The Middleton CDD board meets at 10 a.m. Sept. 6 at Everglades Recre-ation, 5497 Marsh Bend Trail.

The CDD 14 meeting is 1 p.m.
Sept. 12, followed by CDD 15 at 2 p.m., both at Everglades Recreation.

Managing Editor Keith Pearlman can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5347, keith.pearlman@

[Bogie Shooter]

Thanks! Screen scraped the text below:



Did the links not work for you?

[Altavia]

Did the links not work for you?

They were good - thanks again

Some people don't click on links, or have problems with PDF files - trying to help.

[jimdecastro]

It works, thank you

So I have one question that I thought I knew the answer to ... but might not.

Bottom paragraph, Page 1: "After reviewing the amount of new infrastructure turned over, compared with the number of new people moving into the District .... "

How does that make a difference? If I'm not mistaken, the Developer pays the maintenance fee on unsold lots, so how many people moving in, shouldn't be relevant ... should it?

The turnover is from The Developer to the residents. The increase is based on the added infrastructure. A year ago, CDD 14 was Newell and a relatively small amount of Lake Denham. They are complete now - as is Dabney. So now there are more ponds, more grass, more weed killer...

[Goldwingnut]

Bottom paragraph, Page 1: "After reviewing the amount of new infrastructure turned over, compared with the number of new people moving into the District .... "

How does that make a difference? If I'm not mistaken, the Developer pays the maintenance fee on unsold lots, so how many people moving in, shouldn't be relevant ... should it?

I agree with you, it shouldn’t be relevant and I have been trying to figure out the logic behind this additional contribution. I had a conversation with Mr. Blocker yesterday morning about this, he compared it to the turnover of the Hogeye preserve area in CDD12 a few years ago where the increase was deferred over a 3 year period, but it’s not the same thing. I’m still trying to put the pieces together on this one and have a few more stones to turn over.

Some things are certain:
1) this is only a deferral of the increase, the developer won’t pay it again, so an increase will come again next year.
2) next year there will be an outcry over the increase and people will expect the same or greater contribution by the developer again.
3) no matter what the developer does, nothing is ever good enough for some people, as is evident by many of the posts on this thread and elsewhere.

[jimdecastro]

1. Haven't seen the article or the details about that; where do I find more info?
2. Did they donate $2M or was that their calculated share of the CDD15 fee for the unsold properties?
3. If a donation then that's really nice but just kicks the can 12 months down the road

These costs will go up 5-20% a year simply on rising maintenance costs - CDD 13 was 15% this year. The reason this is a one-time fix is next year the Developer will not have financial control - the CDD will. By then, the CDD will be comprised of 5 residents of CDD 14 (I believe CDD 15 went up 18%). The maintenance fee after the 56% would have been (for my house) $837 a year ($70 a month). This is $4 more than CDD 13. I hope the increases are limited to 20% as we "catch up" and they are maintaining the quality as much as possible.

[BrianL99]

The turnover is from The Developer to the residents. The increase is based on the added infrastructure. A year ago, CDD 14 was Newell and a relatively small amount of Lake Denham. They are complete now - as is Dabney. So now there are more ponds, more grass, more weed killer...

I understand why the increase, I don't understand what it has to do with "population". The cost is the cost, regardless of how many people live there.

[crash]

I guess you folks now can quit damning The Developer now that they donated $2 million of their money towards CDD’s 14/15 maintenance fees assessment increase.

What’s your next topic?

You mean maintenance of fairly new facilities that because the houses aren’t all sold the fees are distributed over fewer number of residents.

[crash]

I understand why the increase, I don't understand what it has to do with "population". The cost is the cost, regardless of how many people live there.

The cost is shared by the people who live there less people the higher the cost. What I don’t understand is why did we take them over before the area was built out.

[CybrSage]

I understand why the increase, I don't understand what it has to do with "population". The cost is the cost, regardless of how many people live there.

The more people there are that use something, the more wear and tear it gets.
The hope is that the increased revenue from the increased number of people offsets that. When it does not due to bad inflation from the last 3 years, the fee has to go up to cover it.

[Shipping up to Boston]

I agree with you, it shouldn’t be relevant and I have been trying to figure out the logic behind this additional contribution. I had a conversation with Mr. Blocker yesterday morning about this, he compared it to the turnover of the Hogeye preserve area in CDD12 a few years ago where the increase was deferred over a 3 year period, but it’s not the same thing. I’m still trying to put the pieces together on this one and have a few more stones to turn over.

Some things are certain:
1) this is only a deferral of the increase, the developer won’t pay it again, so an increase will come again next year.
2) next year there will be an outcry over the increase and people will expect the same or greater contribution by the developer again.
3) no matter what the developer does, nothing is ever good enough for some people, as is evident by many of the posts on this thread and elsewhere.

It’s kind of like when they sent out those stimulus checks during the Covid era. People thought it would never end. Much like a dependency. So your #2 comment makes perfect sense and my guess ToTV will be the ‘beneficiary’ of that outcry!

[Justputt]

Please watch Don Wiley's video on this subject before you post so you actually understand what the fee is, why it went up, etc. He explains things pretty clearly, especially in the Q&A section where he answers EVERY QUESTION! I sent a PM to him asking if we're paying for the "family district, schools, and Eastport commercial areas." I also asked if each CDD pays its own way once established or do we share cost with all future CDDs, and he kindly sent the following reply:

"The commercial CDDs also will pay into EMAC. Family CDDs are not a part of the EMAC, neither are the schools. Each member CDD pays a proportional amount of the total EMAC expenses. Costs will ultimately go up due to inflation, the goal is to mitigate the impacts by volume buying. If they were to do away with EMAC you would see a large increase due to higher contract costs and higher administrative overhead costs. The risk mitigation of EMAC is the big winner for all - if there's a huge expense (fire, lightning strike, sink hole, etc) that occurs with the EMAC serviced properties then that risk/cost is spread to all districts. while you may pay a little more next year because something happens in another CDD under EMAC, if it happens in your CDD the next year you don't have to absorb all the costs, it keeps the assessment from yo-yoing every year."

[Bill14564]

These costs will go up 5-20% a year simply on rising maintenance costs - CDD 13 was 15% this year. The reason this is a one-time fix is next year the Developer will not have financial control - the CDD will. By then, the CDD will be comprised of 5 residents of CDD 14 (I believe CDD 15 went up 18%). The maintenance fee after the 56% would have been (for my house) $837 a year ($70 a month). This is $4 more than CDD 13. I hope the increases are limited to 20% as we "catch up" and they are maintaining the quality as much as possible.

Whether landowner elected when the only landowner is the Developer or landowner elected when the landowners are the homeowners or resident elected, the CDD is in control of the finances now and will be in the future. I don't know when the residency requirement kicks in for the supervisors but sure, it's likely they are not all residents now.

This is a one-time fix because it was a generous donation by the Developer. The Developer could donate again next year but that would be even more surprising than this donation.

Maintenance fees do not increase every year. My fee increased last year and will not be increasing this year. I have no idea what might happen next year. They increase as expenses change. My guess is CDD13 had not increased in a few years. CDD14 is relatively new and this might be their first increase. From the looks of the assessment documentation, CDD15 may not have had a fee last year (may not have existed).

[Bill14564]

You mean maintenance of fairly new facilities that because the houses aren’t all sold the fees are distributed over fewer number of residents.

The cost is shared by the people who live there less people the higher the cost. What I don’t understand is why did we take them over before the area was built out.

The more people there are that use something, the more wear and tear it gets.
The hope is that the increased revenue from the increased number of people offsets that. When it does not due to bad inflation from the last 3 years, the fee has to go up to cover it.

From the explanation in the video and the data in the maintenance assessment documents for CDD14 and CDD15 it appears that the cost is distributed across all the platted homes whether they are built, sold, occupied, or just lines on a paper. The fee does not matter how many people are living in the CDD, the fee depends on how many homes are encompassed by the CDD.

For example, the total CDD15 fee is distributed across 3,616 homes on 639 acres. Is it even possible that all 3,616 homes are even constructed, much less occupied? Yet the fee is being assessed to those properties anyway.

The more people who move in the less of the fee comes from the Developer paying for unoccupied properties. The CDD receives the same amount whether all properties are sold or not. An individual homeowner pays the same amount whether all properties are sold or not. It is only the Developer who loses if there are vacant (or unbuilt) homes.

[maistocars]

1. Haven't seen the article or the details about that; where do I find more info?
2. Did they donate $2M or was that their calculated share of the CDD15 fee for the unsold properties?
3. If a donation then that's really nice but just kicks the can 12 months down the road
For #3, it doesn't really kick the can down the road, assuming that way more houses will be sold to absorb the cost. It was a problem this year because of the few houses (on a % basis of total expected homes) that have been sold. I would fully expect the fees next year should be more in line with what others pay in other districts.

[SaucyJim]

Chicken feed. If they are donating means they got out of something?

if $2 million is chicken feed to you can I have $1 million please?

[Bill14564]

For #3, it doesn't really kick the can down the road, assuming that way more houses will be sold to absorb the cost. It was a problem this year because of the few houses (on a % basis of total expected homes) that have been sold. I would fully expect the fees next year should be more in line with what others pay in other districts.

Please read the post immediately preceding yours.

[SaucyJim]

For whatever it's worth, I can't find anything online about the donation. I can't find it on the newspapers site, nor on the District's site.


I'm sure the apparently $2,000,000 "donation" has benefits of some sort to the Developer. That's just common sense.

If the Developer is simply interested in public relations and this is simply a token of his largesse, I don't believe it. There would be much better ways to generate goodwill, than subsidizing the budget of (2) isolated CDD's.

I'm sure most of the story will soon come to light and everyone will have a better idea what's behind it.

“The Developer” is not an individual, most likely. It a board or committee that, of course, has the sense to be mindful of public relations. This circumstance was extreme. They saw that and made a gesture to help. Based on this thread, they may have been better off doing nothing.

As far as benefits to a donor, there is no such thing as a selfless act. When I give to a charity, I get nothing in return? Not true. I get to feel good about mySELF.

[ThirdOfFive]

Well, it was a nice try. But the kind of hatred that we see around here will take much more than this to relieve. It could have been 20 million and the comments would be the same.
Whatever the particulars, the fact remains that this donation is available money that simply would not be there, had the developer NOT taken this action.

For the life of me, I am totally mystified by some of the negative reactions to what is essentially a very good thing. We were taught as kids that nothing is impossible in America: that hard work and dedication can reap hugely positive rewards. The financial success stories of the day were not something to disparage, but instead to admire, and the people achieving those successes were seen not as some kind of villain or just lucky in some kind of dice-roll, but instead as role-models. We could be them, if we just worked hard enough.

I have nothing against the developer: he has created a one-of-a-kind entity here in The Villages that to many is the standard for what a retirement community SHOULD be. If he continues to get richer thereby, more power to him. It is something worthy of admiration. But the negative reactions of many are, to put it bluntly, unfathomable. For my wife and myself, we intend to continuing to enjoy this world-class creation called The Villages, and not to spend any time at all consumed with jealousy or envy of the entity who created it.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Personally, i think in my short time on here that I’ve been very complementary of the Morse family. Heck, I want Wharton to bring Mark in and teach this stuff to the future business leaders of America. So forgive me for asking for specifics before I pass judgment on any of his ‘gestures’. Even his contributions to said members of the BOCC...my commentary wasn’t ‘damning’ the developer, its all legal and he has a right to support those that align with his vision. TV is unlike any other municipality in the nation....because in those ‘cities and towns’, the majority of development has been established. Here, it rolls on. So just like a municipality, I never take my eyes off of the wheel of progress. It affects all of us and the real ‘losers’ are the ones that stop paying attention and circle back at a later date....and after the fact with ‘Huh?!’

[Michael 61]

Whatever the particulars, the fact remains that this donation is available money that simply would not be there, had the developer NOT taken this action.

For the life of me, I am totally mystified by some of the negative reactions to what is essentially a very good thing. We were taught as kids that nothing is impossible in America: that hard work and dedication can reap hugely positive rewards. The financial success stories of the day were not something to disparage, but instead to admire, and the people achieving those successes were seen not as some kind of villain or just lucky in some kind of dice-roll, but instead as role-models. We could be them, if we just worked hard enough.

I have nothing against the developer: he has created a one-of-a-kind entity here in The Villages that to many is the standard for what a retirement community SHOULD be. If he continues to get richer thereby, more power to him. It is something worthy of admiration. But the negative reactions of many are, to put it bluntly, unfathomable. For my wife and myself, we intend to continuing to enjoy this world-class creation called The Villages, and not to spend any time at all consumed with jealousy or envy of the entity who created it.
You echo my sentiments exactly! I did my research before deciding to move here and spend my retirement years. The organization, rules, politics, infrastructure, philosophy of the developer, etc of The Villages come as no surprise to me, and was actually the reasons why I’d decided to move here. I actually sorta feel bad for those who were not aware of how The Villages is run prior to moving here, and are now unhappy as retirees. Not a way I would want to spend my retirement years.

[Bogie Shooter]

Whatever the particulars, the fact remains that this donation is available money that simply would not be there, had the developer NOT taken this action.

For the life of me, I am totally mystified by some of the negative reactions to what is essentially a very good thing. We were taught as kids that nothing is impossible in America: that hard work and dedication can reap hugely positive rewards. The financial success stories of the day were not something to disparage, but instead to admire, and the people achieving those successes were seen not as some kind of villain or just lucky in some kind of dice-roll, but instead as role-models. We could be them, if we just worked hard enough.

I have nothing against the developer: he has created a one-of-a-kind entity here in The Villages that to many is the standard for what a retirement community SHOULD be. If he continues to get richer thereby, more power to him. It is something worthy of admiration. But the negative reactions of many are, to put it bluntly, unfathomable. For my wife and myself, we intend to continuing to enjoy this world-class creation called The Villages, and not to spend any time at all consumed with jealousy or envy of the entity who created it.

I agree!

The list of Debbie Downers is not that long, but is a list nonetheless.
They jump on the trivial to the major topics with their direct or indirect criticism of the “Developer”. Adding their far off solutions assuming they know the background of the topic. Their commentary gets very old…………

[LeRoySmith]

The organization, rules, politics, infrastructure, philosophy of the developer, etc of The Villages come as no surprise to me, and was actually the reasons why I’d decided to move here. I actually sorta feel bad for those who were not aware of how The Villages is run prior to moving here, and are now unhappy as retirees. Not a way I would want to spend my retirement years.

I think this response works for about 3/4 of the complaints here on ToTV. 10 years from now this place will still be nice, there will be a lot to do, there will be a bunch of old folks and prices will still be increasing.

Someone here has a tag line in their sig that says something like 'people are as happy as they make up their minds to be'. We're gonna die pretty soon, try to enjoy what's left.

[Markus]

Without the pushback by residents of CDD’s 14/15 the developer may not have contributed the $2,000,000.

They should not have done it. Now others will want them to chip in for their rise in rates.

[Markus]

I agree with you, it shouldn’t be relevant and I have been trying to figure out the logic behind this additional contribution. I had a conversation with Mr. Blocker yesterday morning about this, he compared it to the turnover of the Hogeye preserve area in CDD12 a few years ago where the increase was deferred over a 3 year period, but it’s not the same thing. I’m still trying to put the pieces together on this one and have a few more stones to turn over.

Some things are certain:
1) this is only a deferral of the increase, the developer won’t pay it again, so an increase will come again next year.
2) next year there will be an outcry over the increase and people will expect the same or greater contribution by the developer again.
3) no matter what the developer does, nothing is ever good enough for some people, as is evident by many of the posts on this thread and elsewhere.

Completely agree. I don't think they should have done this.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Completely agree. I don't think they should have done this.

Yup. The dreaded ‘precedent’ argument is in the oven already for next year! :1rotfl:

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I don't know anything about the motives of the Developer. But it's not a deferral. The raise in fees is happening this year, and the Developer is paying an extra portion of it.

There'll be a raise in fees next year too. This gives current and potential new homeowners a year to save up for the next year's bump or to choose a different place to live in, if they're not already here. That's something they didn't have this time around.

[Pat2015]

I guess you folks now can quit damning The Developer now that they donated $2 million of their money towards CDD’s 14/15 maintenance fees assessment increase.

What’s your next topic?

I think it was horrible optics for the developer to have increased like that on newcomers to TV thus they are kicking in for this year. It’s still a 20% increase in all the newest areas which is a big increase, and what about next year?

[graciegirl]

Chicken feed. If they are donating means they got out of something?

I think they are good folks. I love it here. It is upsetting to hear them maligned by people who I think have other issues. Some folks are jealous of a business' excellent success.

[Marathon Man]

I think they are good folks. I love it here. It is upsetting to hear them maligned by people who I think have other issues. Some folks are jealous of a business' excellent success.

Well said.

[Marathon Man]

You echo my sentiments exactly! I did my research before deciding to move here and spend my retirement years. The organization, rules, politics, infrastructure, philosophy of the developer, etc of The Villages come as no surprise to me, and was actually the reasons why I’d decided to move here. I actually sorta feel bad for those who were not aware of how The Villages is run prior to moving here, and are now unhappy as retirees. Not a way I would want to spend my retirement years.

Well said. I wonder how many making comments here do not even live the particular districts and therefore are not affected.

[Topspinmo]

I agree with you, it shouldn’t be relevant and I have been trying to figure out the logic behind this additional contribution. I had a conversation with Mr. Blocker yesterday morning about this, he compared it to the turnover of the Hogeye preserve area in CDD12 a few years ago where the increase was deferred over a 3 year period, but it’s not the same thing. I’m still trying to put the pieces together on this one and have a few more stones to turn over.

Some things are certain:
1) this is only a deferral of the increase, the developer won’t pay it again, so an increase will come again next year.
2) next year there will be an outcry over the increase and people will expect the same or greater contribution by the developer again.
3) no matter what the developer does, nothing is ever good enough for some people, as is evident by many of the posts on this thread and elsewhere.


Well, that depends on who making money and who’s, paying. Naturally it making money have no complains and hail to king, now if paying money unforeseen head off king. This being going on for centuries. What I find strange such new area requiring all this maintenance?

[LeRoySmith]

I think they are good folks. I love it here. It is upsetting to hear them maligned by people who I think have other issues. Some folks are jealous of a business' excellent success.

I love your attitude, we like it here too

[Topspinmo]

Well said. I wonder how many making comments here do not even live the particular districts and therefore are not affected.

I thought we all one happy village?

[4$ALE]

Well said. I wonder how many making comments here do not even live the particular districts and therefore are not affected.

:shrug: Let's take it one step further...... how many actually "live" here, not "own" here, but "live" here. For some it is just a vacation or golf destination or an investment. I have no problem with any of that, but it's my "home". I "live" here and "love" it.
Like Michael 61 said "I did my research before deciding to move here and spend my retirement years. The organization, rules, politics, infrastructure, philosophy of the developer, etc of The Villages come as no surprise to me, and was actually the reasons why I’d decided to move here."

[Altavia]

Well, that depends on who making money and who’s, paying. Naturally it making money have no complains and hail to king, now if paying money unforeseen head off king. This being going on for centuries. What I find strange such new area requiring all this maintenance?

If I understand correctly, the "maintenance" includes taking care of the grass, landscaping, irrigation, retention ponds, etc.

We bike the area regularly and it at least "feels" like there is more common area and paths per lot.

One example is the MMP along Marsh Bend Trail to Central Parkway is 2.5 miles long and includes very wide landscape areas the entire distance. Homes along one side only.

The same for Lake Denham Drive, a half mile of grass on both sides with no adjacent homes.

I don't know who is paying to maintain the large lake at Eastport?

There simply seems to be is more common ground to take care of per rooftop than other districts.

[twoplanekid]

As they run a successful business, I believe that it's nothing more or less than a business decision.

[Stu from NYC]

As they run a successful business, I believe that it's nothing more or less than a business decision.

I agree. We love it here but do have the right to comment on what goes on.

[Shipping up to Boston]

I agree. We love it here but do have the right to comment on what goes on.

Amen!

It’s that little part of a democracy that the ‘purists’ often forget!

[BrianL99]

The cost is shared by the people who live there less people the higher the cost. What I don’t understand is why did we take them over before the area was built out.

I don't believe that's correct, which was the genesis of my question.

The Developer pays his share on the unsold lots, so actual "sales" or "residency" is irrelevant. I believe.

[BrianL99]

For #3, it doesn't really kick the can down the road, assuming that way more houses will be sold to absorb the cost. It was a problem this year because of the few houses (on a % basis of total expected homes) that have been sold. I would fully expect the fees next year should be more in line with what others pay in other districts.

Again, I don't think that's relevant. As far as I can figure out, the Developer pays the fees (whatever they may be) on the unsold/unoccupied lots. The number of sold homes or sold lots, should be irrelevant.

[LeRoySmith]

The Developer pays his share on the unsold lots, so actual "sales" or "residency" is irrelevant. I believe.

I just read a long drawn out explanation on districtgov.org and this is exactly how I understand it

[BrianL99]

If I understand correctly, the "maintenance" includes taking care of the grass, landscaping, irrigation, retention ponds, etc.

We bike the area regularly and it at least "feels" like there is more common area and paths per lot.

One example is the MMP along Marsh Bend Trail to Central Parkway is 2.5 miles long and includes very wide landscape areas the entire distance. Homes along one side only.

The same for Lake Denham Drive, a half mile of grass on both sides with no adjacent homes.

I don't know who is paying to maintain the large lake at Eastport?

There simply seems to be is more common ground to take care of per rooftop than other districts.

It works, thank you

So I have one question that I thought I knew the answer to ... but might not.

Bottom paragraph, Page 1: "After reviewing the amount of new infrastructure turned over, compared with the number of new people moving into the District .... "

How does that make a difference? If I'm not mistaken, the Developer pays the maintenance fee on unsold lots, so how many people are moving in, shouldn't be relevant ... should it?


I agree with you, it shouldn’t be relevant and I have been trying to figure out the logic behind this additional contribution. … I’m still trying to put the pieces together on this one and have a few more stones to turn over.

Some things are certain:
1) this is only a deferral of the increase, the developer won’t pay it again, so an increase will come again next year.
2) next year there will be an outcry over the increase and people will expect the same or greater contribution by the developer again.
3) no matter what the developer does, nothing is ever good enough for some people, as is evident by many of the posts on this thread and elsewhere.

That is exactly what Don Wiley said in his podcast a week or 2 ago and it makes perfect sense. Apparently the housing "density per acre" is lower in the CDD's affected by the large increases. They have more open space, paths, etc. to take care of.

The issue at hand (at least in this thread), seems to be the Developer's $2M "gift". As many have mentioned I'm sure there's some benefit to the Developer and it may be as simple as "optics". The benefit to the owners in that district, is clear and meaningful. However, it doesn't do anything to change the dynamics in the long run. The costs are the costs. They'll be back next year.

The under-lying question in my mind, which I posed eariler in the thread and Don Wiley subsequently agreed, is the "reporting" of the "gift". The newspaper reports and the District's comments, suggest that the increase in fees, is related to the lack of "sold properties" in those districts. That shouldn't make a difference, as I believe the Developer pays the exact same Maintenance Fees as homeowners pay.

[Bill14564]

That is exactly what Don Wiley said in his podcast a week or 2 ago and it makes perfect sense. Apparently the housing "density per acre" is lower in the CDD's affected by the large increases. They have more open space, paths, etc. to take care of.

The issue at hand (at least in this thread), seems to be the Developer's $2M "gift". As many have mentioned I'm sure there's some benefit to the Developer and it may be as simple as "optics". It doesn't do anything to change the dynamic in the long run. The costs are the costs. They'll be back next year.

The under-lying question in my mind, which I posed eariler in the thread and Don Wiley subsequently agreed, is the "reporting" of the "gift". The newspaper reports and the District's comments, suggest that the increase in fees, is related to the lack of "sold properties" in those districts. That shouldn't make a difference, as I believe the Developer pays the exact same Maintenance Fees as homeowners pay.

That is what we heard, what I wrote about in post #46, and what was explained in information on districtgov.org as reported in post #75.

What's in it for the Developer...
I really don't want to speculate since I'm only guessing but my bet is optics plays a big part. They certainly aren't saving money, they are paying for unsold homes in CDD14 and CDD15 along with unleased properties in Eastport (I assume Eastport is paying but maybe not) and now are kicking in $2M on top of that.

[birdawg]

I think they are good folks. I love it here. It is upsetting to hear them maligned by people who I think have other issues. Some folks are jealous of a business' excellent success.it’s paradise, created by a family who have made thousands love their home and community. Find a better place and move if your not happy here.

[Justputt]

From an in-pool "meeting" today, some were complaining because the planned maintenance fee increases should have been disclosed. Basically, TV knew grass, shrubs, etc. were going to be planted by the time CDD14 was built out and some folks felt the planned/future increase should have been disclosed, even if only in "today's dollars". Everyone understood there is a cost/acre to mow, grounds care, etc., but TV should have been able to provide good faith non-binding estimates to home purchasers of the final amounts. Personally, it would have been nice to "see" this coming, but it wouldn't have impacted our decision to buy and build where we did. So, maybe disclosures should include estimates of likely increases as a CDD is built out or just an estimate of CDD maintenance fees on buildout.

[JoMar]

From an in-pool "meeting" today, some were complaining because the planned maintenance fee increases should have been disclosed. Basically, TV knew grass, shrubs, etc. were going to be planted by the time CDD14 was built out and some folks felt the planned/future increase should have been disclosed, even if only in "today's dollars". Everyone understood there is a cost/acre to mow, grounds care, etc., but TV should have been able to provide good faith non-binding estimates to home purchasers of the final amounts. Personally, it would have been nice to "see" this coming, but it wouldn't have impacted our decision to buy and build where we did. So, maybe disclosures should include estimates of likely increases as a CDD is built out or just an estimate of CDD maintenance fees on buildout.

Don't think it would have made a difference....the non-binding estimates would translate to "when we bought our house we were told ........". Followed by "Gary Morse is rolling in his grave" followed by "It's all about being greedy", followed by "The kids are ruining TV. Not sure that the CDD 14 commissioners were even in place to be able to do what you are asking.

[pokeefe45@aol.com]

The contribution by the developer results in a direct savings of about $200 in maintenance assessments for my Unit and Lot in District 14. No doubt the expenses will still be there next year, and we could expect at least the balance of the 56% increase needing to be assessed then, as the District is now fully built out. The number of landowners 'lots' never changed-what changed quicker than most districts in past years is the amount of common area land that now needs to be maintained. As explained well by Commissioner Wiley, you didn't have to mow, irrigate, fertilize and care for sand and clay in the last fiscal year-but this year it's all landscaping and drainage and ponds and........ That's where the increase kicked in. As for the Board of Supervisors in District 14-there are now 2 of 5 that are residents of the District (more recently appointed based on 2 resignations) and 3 seats are up for re-election (or election, as they were originally appointed) this November. Regarding motives-my belief is that this is a good business decision by the 'developer'. The $2 million will quell what was quickly becoming some very vocal negative 'press'. It will take only about 25 or 30 home sales to recoup those funds, and the outcry had a chance at inhibiting those same home sales in the new build areas. I can tell you from personal experience that once announced, conversations in gatherings and on social media quickly turned elsewhere. I even saw the re-emergence of a strain about dog defecation and related disposal issues, which always signals a return to normalcy in any community.