Property tax
 

Well it looks like Sumter county is reducing our millage rate,if I got accurate info. So with the increase of the number of villagers they have more coming in than what they need. So if a governmental agency can do that why can't the districts in The Villages figure a way to reduce the amenity fee charged. Just a question and an observation. I know they are two different animals.

Well we'll see. Someone is bound to say that Sumter county is controlled by the Morses. If so, good job!

In many areas of the country once a person reaches 65 they become exempt from paying school taxes. I wish it was that way in Sumter County

We are the cow's that Sumter County milks. Senior exemption ! Fat chance...

Really?!? I've never heard of this before ... at least not the places I have lived. Wow!

Five responses and no one mentioned the AMENITIES part of Ddoug's question.

My answer is that the tax rate has nothing to do with the amenities fees. The amenity fees are paid by the villages living in the villages to pay for the activities that we love to do. What does that have to do with the tax base of Sumter county?

Z

And the amenities fees are also used to pay the developer's lawyers in the IRS investigation, thereby trying to protect the developer's bottom line.

Exactly. I wouldn't be expecting the amenity fees to go down any time soon.

As has been stated, amenity fees have nothing to do with property taxes.



As the Villages expands with new homes, new amenities are being added so one would expect the fee to remain somewhat stable as supply of homes increases with number of amenities.



In the case of Sumter county, 3,000 new residences equals a nice boost in tax revenue, probably more than needed to provide comparable county services, so, they can roll back the millage rate. Once the Villages quits selling new homes, the millage rate rollbacks may cease.

villages 07: I take the opposite view. As population grows demands will increase and so will amenities.

Property taxes vis a vis amenities. To my way of thinking The Villages applies the euphemism "amenities" which are really taxes and as history has taught us in the long run taxes only go up and are expanded to cover things no one ever intended or wanted

the millage went down but the assement went up.

People really don't read posts and understand what is being said. I know there is no connection to taxes and amenity fees. What was trying to say was if a governmental operation can reduce taxes and still operate effectively why can't a private city ,as we are referred to, do the same. One the gates should be removed they do nothing for security only cost money. They only give a false impression of a gated community. One gate in particular is 466 and Morse Blvd. Traffic backs up there some times to 466 with traffic headed east. I gues what ever.

Have you taken your concerns and questions to your local district meeting? Perhaps there would be better answers than on a chat room forum.

I have no issue with amenity fee since I use the amenities and enjoy what they provide, even if it's sitting by the water and reflecting on how fortunate it is to be in this place.

Why should they be exempt? That old argument " I have no kids in school" , never did mean anything.

Good advice.

Taxes going down. THAT will NEVER HAPPEN.:bowdown::bowdown:
READ my lips! :eclipsee_gold_cup: Taxes will alway go up. :spoken:

So your solution to reducing amenity fees is to remove the gates?

I always wonder about the thought process of those who think that the gates should be removed.

#1 Do they drive a golf cart? I can't imagine that they do. No one I know who uses a golf cart would ever think that taking the gates down would be a good thing. We (the golf cart drivers) wouldn't stand a chance at the crossings if the gates weren't there.

#2 Did they not realize that this was not a secure "gated community" before they bought here? I do believe that the gates, for various reasons, do add a level of security (slowing traffic, cameras, etc.), but it only took me about 5 seconds upon my first visit to realize that anyone could push a button and enter. I'm continually amazed to read that there are people who bought here, thinking that it was a gated community.

#3 Were there gates here when you moved here? Were there roundabouts here when you moved here? Was this a golf cart community with the necessary golf cart crossings when you moved here? I chose to live here, in part, because of these things. Perhaps some folks decided to live here despite some of these "obstacles". But they (the gates, crossings & roundabouts) are here and they have been designed by people who are experts in their field.

Maybe we could get rid of the maintenance people on the golf courses, and ask for volunteers with lawnmowers.

Hi Bogie Shooter" I'll send you a PM explaining my rationale

Your emotions are showing...............

Well said!

Leave the gates alone---- Be careful what you ask for, you may get your wish.

As a percentage of the total amenities costs, my guess is that they are relative minimal and I am confident that there presence has prevented or minimizesd the trauma from the chance contact between autos and all the other types of conveyances that traverse the many intersections in TV---

The historical argument concerning "taxes"has been their usefulness, abuses and wastes.

Political entities enforce and control the flow of taxes and the increase of revenue predicated on their spending habits.

In my view politicians are terrible fiduciary agents wasteful neglectful irresponsible.

Education cost have been going up astronomically and without a correspondent increase in the quality of education. so it is an apparent canard to suggest that more tax money will solve the problem. More money only make the education problem worse because it misdirect those in charge.

The Wall Street Journal is replete of stories where government tax waste has reached monumental proportions. It sickens one to have to sit by while politicians continue their dances of the patriotic duty of citizens to pay their taxes. It was the general reason I noted in a previous post that I wished those 65 and older could be exempt from paying school taxes and that includes subsidies to college students whose professors are nothing more than tenured radicals from the 1960's spewing anti-capitalistic anti-conservatism at their students.

We'll said rubicon! Some of your views on the education system are similar to mine.