Taxes to Leesburg and Wildwood
 

This is a serious question on the confluence of taxes here. If I remember correctly, a taxing municipality must render basic services to its citizens. In the case of those living in St. Catherine and Citrus Grove (I’m sure there are others), taxes are paid to two separate municipalities with no choices.

We pay taxes on our utilities to Leesburg on the utilities (about 18 percent) on a little over a 100 dollar electric gas bill.

We pay Wildwood an annual tax of around 1400 (guesstimate).

Our fire fee of a 127 dollars is paid to Sumter Co.

Can two different municipalities legally force tax the same residential property?

It seems to me that the Wildwood tax is a property tax, but the Leesburg tax is a utility service tax. Two different types of tax used for different purposes.

Don’t forget
 

Primary revenue streams after property taxes for a municipality are utility services. A residential property can’t escape utilities and the high tax rate on them a municipal authority sets. Wildwood may have jurisdiction but, they are doing everything they are needed to do to sustain their jurisdiction claims.

Different fees and taxes based on where you live and who provides service. It seems like the source of confusion is Leesburg Electric providing service inside Sumter County. If that is where you send your electric payments then I guess they do.

I believe you pay the following:

Because you live in Sumter County
- Sumter County property tax
- Sumter County school tax
- Sumter County fire protection fee

Because you live in an area incorporated by Wildwood City
- Wildwood City tax

Because you live in this part of Florida
- Southwest Florida Water Management Division (SWFWMD) fee

Because you live in a CDD
- Annual bond payment
- Annual CDD maintenance payment

Because of who provides your water service
- CSU water and irrigation and any associated tax

Because of who provides electric service
- Leesburg electric bill and any associated tax

Because you live in the Villages
- Villages amenity fee
- Villages trash pickup


Difference between your bill and mine:
- I live in an unincorporated section of Sumter County so I don't pay Wildwood taxes
- My electric company is SECO so they get my bill payments

The same situation occurs for the Pine Ridge and Pine Hills Villagers who live in Fruitland Park. They pay property taxes to Fruitland Park, and utility taxes to Leesburg. I don't know if it is legal.

:ohdear: Now if someone will explain " The Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions" to him, he will know pretty much everything he should have researched before signing on the dotted line. :rolleyes:

///

The taxes on my electric bill are $0.42 State tax on the lease of a surge protector and 2.5625% State Gross Receipt tax on the transport of electricity. Taxes only collected for the State and nowhere near 18%. So in my case, the taxing authority is the State that I live in.

It would be interesting to see the breakdown of a Leesburg Electric bill (I couldn't find one online) to see what taxes are included.

EDIT: This Leesburg Utilities page has some useful information:

Electric Information - Effective 10/1/2022
The residential electric rate applies to an electrical service supplying electricity to a single family residence. Service provided here under shall not be shared with or resold to others.

Customer charge -> $15.00 per month
Residential 0-1000 kwh -> $0.092940 per kwh
Residential over 1000 kwh -> $0.115492 per kwh

The Bulk Power Cost Adjustment is a separate charge which could vary each month and is included in the total utility bill. Residents inside the City pay a 10% Public Service Tax. Residents outside the City pay a 10% surcharge. Total charges are subject to the Gross Receipts Tax of 2.564%.

You pay a $15 service charge and I pay $0.02 more for my first 1,000 kwh. For most months you pay less than I do.

I pay $0.023 more than you for any usage over 1,000 kwh.

You pay a 10% surcharge that I don't have. Since they carefully note that this is a surcharge and not a tax (and since it has not been challenged) it must be legal. One could certainly make an argument that if it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck then it is actually funding for a municipality that does not provide any service to you. But again, there is probably a reason it has not been successfully challenged in court.

Here is my last Leesburg Electric bill:

Bill Date : 11/17/23 Due Date: 12/08/23
Bill Period : 11/ 23
Balance forward : $0.00
Payments / adj. : $0.00
Current charges : $79.57
Bill amount : $79.57
Reading information
Actual Demand
Service Read date Type Meter_number Days ______Consumption______
EL 11/09/23 Regular EL54702282 30 452.00 .00
Current Charge Detail
Code Description Amount
EL ELECTRIC 66.05
TAXES 13.52
Total Actual Charges 79.57

Balance : $79.57 as of 11/20/23

Yeah, not enough detail to be terribly helpful.

At 452kwh used the electric usage charge would be $42 with the 10/1/22 numbers. Add the $15 customer charge and it would be $57. That's pretty close; maybe the electric usage rates have increased (I know mine have) but that would require a rate of 0.11294 which is an increase of 0.02 over the 10/1/22 number. They could also be calling that the bulk PCA adjustment.

$13.52 tax on $66.05 is a rate of 20.469%. The 10/1/22 numbers explain 12.564% but that still leaves 7.905% or $5.22 unexplained.

I think I would make a quick call to Leesburg Electric to ask for more details to include an updated rate chart.

EDIT (last one, this is long enough already):
$51.05 for electric
$15 for customer charge
$66.05 Total electric charge

2.56% applied to $51.05 = $1.309
10% city tax applied to $51.05 = $5.105
10% non-city surcharge applied to $51.05+$15+$5.105 = $7.1155
$13.53 Total taxes (rounding differently could get rid of one penny)

If THIS is correct, you are paying both city taxes PLUS a 10% surcharge on the total including the city taxes.

No
 

Of course, she did not. After a more thorough understanding through living here for a length of time it all does settle in. Since every Village differs, they likely don’t have a complete understanding on the differences between some areas.

In addition as originally posted, tax money goes in many different directions. We built here and do love it. Mostly my distaste for taxes is the fact that we pay Wildwood for nothing. They don’t provide the trash, water or utilities. Heck, they don’t even light the street lights at night.

Be thankful Leesburg Electric provides service to your area...otherwise you wouldn't have any service!

LOL

Mine explained to me where baby's comes from :)

Now that’s funny!

Homework
 

Dang. That's some serious homework! Impressive!