Sumter County 25% Tax Increase
 

Did anyone catch on page C4 of the Daily Sun the article regarding Sumter County increasing this years property taxes by 25%? Maybe they should not have asked the developer to continue building south of 44.

I saw that and was quite surprised. We’ve had years and years of increasing budgets but had the increased tax base to go along with it so that the rollback rate has resulted in modest tax decreases.

What changed? The tax base continues to increase at a healthy clip. I can’t imagine that the budget had to be increased by that much in one year. I would like to hear an explanation directly from a commissioner. 25% seems outrageous. But, a caution. When they present a preliminary budget/tax rate, the final rate can go down but not up. Maybe they are setting us up for a bait and switch. Threatening 25% now, but settling for something substantially lower. Time will tell.

Full disclosure...I haven’t done any further research beyond what is printed in the Sun.

I just read the article. Not surprised as I have been amazed at how low the property taxes are in TV.

Using zero based budgeting I would insist on a line by line comparison of the previous years actual VS the 25% increase proposal.

Most government organizations have no concept of staying within budget. It is not their money and the process of ever increasing spending resulting in the need for increasing revenues (taxing us!).

With an increasing tax base, as in the past 15 years that we have been here, there should be no reason for an increase let alone a 25% increase.

Let us not fall for the 25% bait then switching to a lower number to make the tax payer feel like they won one.

There needs to be an accounting for ANY INCREASE!!

We are in our 13 year in TV and Sumter County. Frankly, I’ve been wondering when our property real estate tax would go in a different direction. Taxes have been going lower almost every year. It’s been too good to be sustainable. One thought to remember. Commissioners live in Sumter County too. That means their taxes will go up just the same as the rest of the residents of Sumter County. They will, like in the past, be very prudent about how much to raise taxes on us and themselves. It won’t be close to 25% IMHO.

How low the property taxes are here in TV?

How low compared to where???

They are not low. Paying double what I paid in the People's Republic of Maryland for a two story full basement brick house, 3100 sq feet with two car garage and theater. All on 4 acres.

Time to start reqular reassesments of houses.

Lower than NJ
 

Our taxes went from 12,000 to 2200

The devil is in the detail - read if interested -> https://www.sumtercountyfl.gov/Agend...4?fileID=33700

Page 8 shows the proposed millage increase.

Thanks for the link. I like details. Angels can be in them, too.

I was surprised to see a 25% increase. There should be a substantial increase in incoming revenue from the increase in housing/population. Seems to me that should cover the increase in spending. Like someone else said, if it was their money it would be more wisely used. I must be missing something....

When we lived in NJ , we left in 95'--our taxes were $19K-- compared to NJ we're living for free

We paid much more in TX and insurance was muuuuuuch higher. Read the article and it said it was a "proposal". I do not like increases in taxes but also realize that cost increase for just about everything. Yes you have more people paying more taxes but you have more people using roads, all city/county infrastructure, need more police, fire & paramedics. More employees means a need for schools, teachers and all the cost associated. Each of these will need benefits which have not gotten cheaper. A huge cost for municipals, state and fed is retiree cost as was said in the article. But we should all stay vigilant and hold elected officials responsible/accountable for spending our money. Just need to stay vigilant but not expect cost to stay the same forever.

Sumter County receives tons of extra revenue from the largest growth in Florida. Adding additional real estate tax is corrupt. They must present additional "income" versus the project cost they mentioned. I strongly suggest the Developer Trust and County work out how to pass all costs to homeowners in "Advance". Those that say it is cheaper than where they come from are just referencing an apples vs oranges situation. Too bad County Commissioners (or whatever they are called) have no initiative to protect new residents.

It looks like the increases are in a "special revenue fund". That means the extra $ are meant for specific projects. I wonder what they are.

for the DEPARTMENT FUND LINE ITEM DETAIL PROFORMA BUDGET -> https://www.sumtercountyfl.gov/Agend...4?fileID=33701

proposed ad valorem taxes increase by about $23 million
Sheriff expenses up about 9 % to 33 million
election cost about 1 million
page 14 340 operations(new)?? $5 million
look at page 24 to see Tourism expenses

for even better details on expenses (297 pages) look here -> https://www.sumtercountyfl.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/14374?
fileID=33697

as examples
page 179 Villages Fire Dept around 15 million
page 193 Animal Services of $1,135,231
page 218 to see how much is paid to SECO for lighting in CDD 1 through 10

For me, 1 YEARS taxes here is just about 2 MONTHS taxes up in NJ. That includes everything on my bill except for bond (which I really consider taxes whether it actually is or not).

Isn't there some sort of tax increase cap? When we bought this house the previous owner had some sort of cap and he paid 1/3rd of what we are paying. Something like "save our home" discount. Not 100% sure but he paid next to nothing.

Twoplane.....that's enough to blow my mind. It looks to me like the increase has to be mostly in road construction, fire stations, jail, etc. But, without spending many hours studying the numbers it's tough to follow what's happening. The chart on page 8 shows capital projects funds much lower for 2019 than in 2018. But, the "special revenue" category goes up more than enough to offset that. A bit of a shell game there, perhaps. My biggest concern is whether the Villages developer is covering a fair share of the cost of the many new roads and road improvements needed to support the new development.

I would say The Developer is paying what he can get away with.
As would we all!

I would trust a tax increase to be more honest and appropriate than I would a tax decrease.

Thank you for the link! It was interesting reading in multiple aspects...including the fourth town center in Sumter County. Everything costs money!

I have always found that folks who run public owned operations such as town, county, state and most federal have no concept of cost control. The base has increased enough to lower the rate for a few years but the total amount spent has always increased. Now they want the rate of increase to exceed the taxable base increase. If this was run as a business most would be fired. No one looks for ways to reduce cost. They all assume that what was spent the prior year is the starting point and then additional costs are added to that to establish a new budget. Where they should have to start at zero and justify all cost, not just the added cost.

I would want to know how much automation have they added to reduce cost?
How much have they consolidated services and buying supplies?
Have all services been standardized to reduce cost?
Looking at the Seco bill, has all lighting been replaced with LED? Is there a 5 year program to accomplish that?
I know it's heresy to even suggest it, but police and fire costs don't have to increase every year.

My point is that in the business world we would have to look at these things every year and most years budgets would be reduced. In the public services world these things are never considered.

I would say that the old belief that having county maintained roads in the Villages saves Villagers money has been put to rest. We pay for everything we have as it should be.

At the same time the Villages continues to grow, Sumter County will become more a part of the Villages.

As others have said coming from Long Island in 2009 these taxes have been a joke. Even with the proposed increase I'd be paying less here then I was on Long Island in 09. My Fire Tax for a Volunteer Dept. were more in 09 then they are here for a Paid Dept. and our roads were car destroyers. Still a bargain here which was one of our biggest draws moving here. JMO

Sumter county increase in Tax revenue is over 7% from last year according to State finance revenues. Inflation running about 2.5% and they want a 25% increase??...dont think so..live within your means...CUT...CUT....CUT

A twenty-five percent increase in property taxes is way more than any increase I've ever seen before. Could it be a way for the Sumter government to help out Lake and Marion Counties by leveling the property tax playing field (for those who don't know, those counties have significantly higher property taxes than Sumter)? Or is it a major expenditure not yet identified? Or maybe simple mismanagement of the county? Inquiring minds want to know.

???, how do you figure? I would figure the opposite.

Elected officials?????

But did you pay state income tax?

The sooner infrastructure is started on the Southern Oaks Center the better for all.

:boom: :S

:ohdear: Some people live in a place and just do not understand how it operates. Maybe GWN will get on and explain it some more. If he does..... I hope he types slowly! :popcorn:

If your are talking about the "The infrastructure of the District in which you live was built with tax-exempt bonds. The bonds are repaid with monies collected in the annual tax bill sent out by the County Tax Collector's Offices and appear in the Non-Ad Valorem section of the tax bill as "Bond Debt Assessment".

I would also add this from the Villages District gov web site "What is the Bond Debt Assessment? The bond debt assessment reflects each lot’s proportionate share of the cost of building the infrastructure within its District or for which its District has responsibility. It is the most equitable method of distributing costs between the properties that benefit from the infrastructure. Infrastructure includes storm water systems, underground pump stations, water retention areas, curbs, gutters, streetlights, transportation trails, underground piping, etc. "

found here -> https://www.districtgov.org/departme...financeFAQ.pdf

So, bonds are paid to the Village numbered CDD in which you live.

Most roads in the Villages are built and maintained by the County in which they are located.

Thank You twoplanekid

:ohdear: Are you sure they aren't built by the Developer and maintained by the local governments with the exception of All Villa roads and District 4 roads in Marion County? :shrug:


:read: From District Web Site:

All Villa roads and District 4 roads in Marion County: please call District Property
Management office (352)753-4022.
All other roadways please contact the county/city you reside in:
Sumter County- (352) 689-4400
Lake County- (352) 343-5439
Town of Lady Lake- (352) 751-1526
City of Fruitland Park- (352) 360-6686 press 6

As I understand the system, tax rates are based on the total appraised value of the taxed jurisdiction by the taxing authority vis-a-vis approved spending. If total real estate appraised tends to go up, taxes tend to go down, except in cases of excess spending (whatever the reason). So unless there is a lot of APPROVED spending, 25% is ridiculous, laughable and unconscionable. The taxing authorities DESERVE the shame and ridicule they should endure for proposing an increase like that.

As it was before my time in the Villages, you may be correct that the Developer built the roads and was then reimbursed ?? by the counties as is now the case with the new development south of 44. My bad!
Dropbox - 2018-07-10 VOSO roadway agreement (3).pdf - Simplify your life

:ho: VCDD Resident Academy and several other ways to find out how things work.

It's interesting that the developer is reimbursed by the county for "regional roadway segments". If these segments weren't needed without the additional developments, then the cost should probably be borne by the developer, rather than being reimbursed by everyone who pays taxes in the county. Without having knowledge of all the details, it's hard to form a strong opinion....but, I would be inclined to vote against approving anything that wouldn't be covered by revenue from the new tax base created by the development.