Originally Posted by Midge538 (Post 287782)

R we residents 'the last to know' what 'facts' are available to us.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...5465947.column

http://www.orlandosentinal.com/news/...5465947.column

Originally Posted by Midge538 (Post 287782)

R we residents 'the last to know' what 'facts' are available to us.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...5465947.column

http://www.orlandosentinal.com/news/...5465947.column

Originally Posted by BlueHeronFan (Post 287803)

GG,

That's it in a nutshell! Florida is such a key state during general elections. If this is a political thing, why did it start in the days of George Bush?
Personally, I'll just wait to see how it play's out, but I believe they have tax lawyers etc
who tell them what is legal and what and how much they would owe the IRS.
Lawyers do not decide what is owed the IRS.
I recently read where some dentist got 42 months for tax evasion. Gee, wonder if any politicians we know will get the same????

Originally Posted by redwitch (Post 287797)

But, no TVers are not the last to know if they choose to stay informed. Are they going to hear the bad things from the Morses? Not if the Morses can help it. Remember, the Sun and the local TV/radio stations are really more of an advertising media for TV than anything else. Are we going to hear the good things from the Sentinel? Nope. So, you have to look at all sources -- other local papers; online articles; local television (other than channel 2); local news radio. You can be as informed or uninformed as you choose to be.

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 287800)

Creally? Not if you read TOTV. Unfortunately you need to be a forensic auditor to understand the problem. It has been explained many times but it is something that can't be put into one sentence. I don't think that all of these smart people are having the wool pulled over their eyes. I have never regretted buying in The Villages, no matter what.

I think the Democratic Sentinel doesn't like all the money the Morses throw to the Republican party. That is my opinion.

Originally Posted by nitehawk (Post 287821)

Now - Now Gracie why bring in politics????
Maybe its all Obama's fault

Originally Posted by Taj44 (Post 287841)

There are a number of people who would like to bury their heads in the sand over this issue. I suppose some just can't admit that maybe something is not perfect about The Villages, or that perhaps there were shady dealings by the Morse family. The thing is we just don't know at this point. We don't know how things are going to turn out. We all have opinions, but there is an IRS investigation going on, for a reason, there may be repercussions, and that is all we know. To blithely say there is no problem, is just foolishness. Personally I'm not losing sleep over it. We don't have a lot invested in The Villages, and if something were to happen, we could give up the house, absorb the loss and move elsewhere. And I assume if we Villagers got shafted somehow, there would be a huge lawsuit. I see that the district has already spent over $200,000 of resident's money on high priced lawyers so far. And that's probably just the beginning. In the long run this could get very messy, and expensive for the residents.

Originally Posted by Taj44 (Post 287841)

There are a number of people who would like to bury their heads in the sand over this issue. I suppose some just can't admit that maybe something is not perfect about The Villages, or that perhaps there were shady dealings by the Morse family. The thing is we just don't know at this point. We don't know how things are going to turn out. We all have opinions, but there is an IRS investigation going on, for a reason, there may be repercussions, and that is all we know. To blithely say there is no problem, is just foolishness. Personally I'm not losing sleep over it. We don't have a lot invested in The Villages, and if something were to happen, we could give up the house, absorb the loss and move elsewhere. And I assume if we Villagers got shafted somehow, there would be a huge lawsuit. I see that the district has already spent over $200,000 of resident's money on high priced lawyers so far. And that's probably just the beginning. In the long run this could get very messy, and expensive for the residents.

Originally Posted by Lou Card (Post 287853)

The Orlando Sentinel for some unknown reason has been critical about the Villages for years. You need to get your information from any source other than them for an accurate take on what we have to worry or not worry about here in Paradise.

Originally Posted by The Shadow (Post 287789)

Part One

“Villagers can take a deep breath on those fronts. Morse and his family are extremely well capitalized — fabulously wealthy is probably a better description — and because homes in The Villages continue to sell, default on the bonds is an extremely remote possibility.” SNIP………..

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...5465947.column

“Last to Know”? This has not been happening for the last three years according to 90% of the people on this forum. Wake up and smell the IRS. 90% of the people will tell you the Orlando Sentinel is fabricating this, I remain undecided.:shocked:

Originally Posted by jmitchell (Post 287896)

BE PREPARED -- LONG POST :blahblahblah: Although I don't think "fabricating" is probably accurate, something is not right with these articles. After reading the information sent to me by bkcummingham, edvinmass, the IRS letters to The Villages, TV response to the IRS and the few other documents I have been able to find so far, these articles by the Orlando Sentinel are twisting things at best. IMO

For some reason, this is really upsetting to me. I do not think the Morse's or TV is perfect -- nor do I think TV is anything like these other CDDs that we are being compared to. EdVinnMass seems to have such good info and I am sure there are MANY other TVers that also understand the issues which is probably why it appears that many people aren't worried. I don't know "YET", but I don't think that the Orlando Sentinel information is accurate and IMO may even be purposefully misleading (not sure why, but then some people just like to "stir the pot". Given this, I got fed up and sent Ms. Ritchie the following email:

Ms. Ritchie,

My husband and I are going to be new residents of The Villages in October 2011. We are moving from the D.C. area and have both worked for the Federal Government. I am not sure that your current string of articles on The Villages and the IRS/CDD situation accurately present the facts. Your articles also seem to be scaring quite a few current and potential Villages residents unnecessarily. I for one do not like your "soap opera" reporting style.

Do you understand that most of these people are senior citizens who are trying to enjoy the remaining years they have left on this earth and that your articles are causing many of them unwarranted grief and stress. I am not yet a "senior". I am 50. My husband will be 60 in December. He also has cancer. I am sure that many other Villages residents also have illnesses. They do not need for you to add to their worries. If you have honest and accurate information that will help us preserve the lifestyle that we pay for and love, GREAT. If not, please stop causing us harm. How would you like it if someone was continually creating this kind of grief for your parents just so that they could get readers?

I have NO relationship to the Morse family. I am not a Republican – although I am a strong believer in our Country’s capitalist system. I do believe that you can be held personally liable for what you report. I plan to start looking into the "facts" in your articles, and together with other residents of The Villages, who are fed up with this game that you are playing with our community, will hold you responsible for any harm you have caused through your inaccurate and inflammatory reporting that seems to be meant for self-promotion purposes only.

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 287800)

creally? Not if you read totv. Unfortunately you need to be a forensic auditor to understand the problem. It has been explained many times but it is something that can't be put into one sentence. I don't think that all of these smart people are having the wool pulled over their eyes. I have never regretted buying in the villages, no matter what.

i think the democratic sentinel doesn't like all the money the morses throw to the republican party. That is my opinion.

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter (Post 287850)

I agree with most of what you say, however, you say "we don't know" and then go on to say "this could get very messy, and expensive for the residents". You just as easily could have said in the long run it won't cost residents anything. This becomes the irony of the issue.....We just do not know at this point. So why speculate and alarm?

Originally Posted by Taj44 (Post 287921)

I could have said that in the long run it won't cost the residents anything, except I don't believe that to be the case. Its already cost the residents $209,000!

Originally Posted by jmitchell (Post 287920)

JimJoe,

I apologize if what I wrote came across as an “attack”. I was just trying to make the Orlando Sentinel and Ms. Ritchie take responsibility for their reporting. I too want the facts and I believe that news organizations have the responsibility to present the facts accurately and that we as citizens should make sure they do so.

I am just beginning to gather information and before I post details, I want to make sure my facts are accurate, but I will give you one, very clear example. Below is a sentence from the most recent article.

“The agency wanted $16 million in back taxes and a promise by community development districts never again to masquerade as a legitimate government.”

I have not read in any of the IRS documents that they asked for “a promise by community development districts never again to masquerade as a legitimate government.” What I believe she is trying to make reader believe is that TVCDDs or any CDDs for that matter are not “legitimate governments” – which they are per Florida Statute. Florida Statue also gives CDDs the right to issue bonds, including tax exempts bonds.

I will stop here. This is just one example.

Originally Posted by JimJoe (Post 287910)

I have read the news articles, and the IRS and CDD letters and have tried to get the facts. I want to be informed.
I do not care to read attacks on the contributors from either "side". If they are wrong, please present the facts and show me.
We need to be informed and urge everyone to get this issue RESOLVED.

Originally Posted by Taj44 (Post 287921)

I could have said that in the long run it won't cost the residents anything, except I don't believe that to be the case. Its already cost the residents $209,000!

Originally Posted by The Shadow (Post 287930)

“The agency wanted $16 million in back taxes and a promise by community development districts never again to masquerade as a legitimate government.”

More accurately,
The agency wanted $16 million in back taxes and a promise by community development districts never again issue tax free bonds.

Or
The agency wanted $16 million in back taxes and a promise by community development districts never again to masquerade as a government qualified to issue tax free bonds.

“masquerade as a legitimate government” That phrase was not used.

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 287932)

We really cannot make that assumption.

Originally Posted by jannd228 (Post 287924)

not to ask but has anyone asked a tax attorney or former IRS retiree who may live in TV questions, it might be helpful at some point

I am looking at TV and elsewhere now because of the posts I read here

Originally Posted by JimJoe (Post 287933)

jmitchell:
I enjoyed your most recent post. I can see your point about the language used in the article. Maybe a better way to have said it would be they want 14 million dollars in back taxes and a promise not to issue tax free bonds.

I am not sure if CDDs are technically "governments". Do residents get to vote on the directors of the two commerical districts that issued the bonds? I don't think so but I could be wrong.

I doubt the State of Florida can authorize the use of FEDERAL tax free bonds unless someone had a private opinion letter from the IRS, which I do not understand why one was not obtained before these bonds were issued. I would think they had a bond attorney look at this before they were issued.

But my point is still this: whether the article used inflamatory language or not, owners and potential owners in TV have a need and a right to accurate information about this issue so they can make rational decisions about investing in TV. Going after the messengers on any issue only detracts from enlightenment. I understand there are times when it is necessary to point out the use of language that may be inaccurate or misleading. I never like it when discussions are reduced to who is stupid or not. I do give the Orlando Sentinel credit for shedding some light on this topic. I just want it resolved asap, and I would like to know why it is taking so long. Any ideas?

I do appreciate your imput on this topic. I would like to know if it is not too personal if any realtor informed you before you bought about the IRS issue, or did you have to ask about it? Thanks. JJ

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 287934)

Do you live here Shadow?

Originally Posted by The Shadow (Post 287930)

“masquerade as a legitimate government” That phrase was not used.

Originally Posted by Carol K (Post 287944)

We have been following this IRS information since we plan on moving to TV. I agree that asking someone with knowledge (like a tax attorney) would be helpful rather than a lot of guessing. There must be someone that lives in TV that is an attorney. This matter would not prevent us from moving to TV, but sure would be nice to know the true facts.

Originally Posted by Midge538 (Post 287782)

R we residents 'the last to know' what 'facts' are available to us.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...5465947.column

http://www.orlandosentinal.com/news/...5465947.column