Who Is Going To Pay For The New Paradise Rec. Center?
 

I am surprised that there has been little or no discussion about spending at least $19.5 million to replace the Paradise Rec. Center. All at the time when debates raged over some minor possible increase in fire/ambulance fees; constantly rising $5 or $10 increases in amenity fees; "the Million Dollar Mile"; and talk by District supervisors of possibly freezing/capping amenities fees (maybe for a year).

So how do we pay $19.5 million for a new rec center? (Especially when the old one seems to work just fine after a major renovation less than 15 years ago): More bonds/debt to be paid off over the years thru higher monthly amenities fees? Maybe there is a hidden super contingency fund available to underwrite $19.5 million? Maybe a "new surcharge fee" added to our possibly "frozen" monthly amenities fee? Maybe the reserves in the current contingency reserve fund have grown too large and needs reducing? Maybe a onetime surcharge of $141 to all 135,000 current Villages residents? Maybe the Developer is gifting the new center to us?

Fat chance of the Developer gifting it the property was turned over to the VCDD years ago and has moved on.

:)https://www.districtgov.org/communit...Recreation.pdf

And the discussion has been going on for several years.

A $40 million settlement was won by the residents in 2008 over The Paradise Rec Center. The settlement had a payment schedule over a long period of time with a very large final payment.

Villages settles lawsuit, will fund $40M in upgrades – Orlando Sentinel

I'm surprised someone has lived here for so long and doesn't have a clue how this works.

Nice to see the north end hasn't been forgotten.

The Amenity Authority Committee (AAC) meets on the Wednesday before the Second Friday of the month at 9:00 a.m. at the Savannah Regional Recreation Center in the Ashley Wilkes Room. Audio recordings of Committee meetings, workshops or public hearings are available for purchase per Florida Statute 119.07 through the District Clerk for $1.00 per CD requested. Residents may also arrange to listen to audio recordings at the District office. Please call 352-751-3939 for requests or information.

I fairly know how it works.
Most of the examples were meant to be tongue-and-cheek. The intended point of the posting is how nickel-dime spending and proposals receive great attention, but major commitments seem to pass right on by. As for the years ago big settlement with the Developer; the last of those funds was used for the First Responders Center.

So renovations of $18.5 million were needed so $19.5 million for all new made sense. Other than any settlements there are some large amounts of cash around to be used for upkeep and replacements of things around The Villages. People care about what comes out of their pocket each month but not so much if they are not asked to give money directly.

Not sure why the documentation refers to it as Villages of Marion and Marion County Future Recreation Center. It's in Lake County, in the town of Lady Lake.

Also I'm a resident of the Paradise region (as is obvious by my handle, Orange Blossom Baby). I haven't seen or heard about any survey that will theoretically be tabulated some time this month, according to their schedule.

Jealousy is is terrible thing, it will eat you up! :spoken:

:confused: The link I posted is a Power Point Presentation about the "Paradise Recreation Complex". The Marion County Future Recreation Center you mention is the "First Responders Rec. Center".
Repairing or replacing Paradise has been talked about for a long time. Why you have not heard about it is anyone's guess. I don't know. It's been in The "Sun", the online news site, and below is a post from a week ago on this site. I remember reading they wanted to wait til 1st. Responders was built before starting Paradise. That was a couple years ago.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...light=Paradise

We’re On Our Own Dime
 

The residents won a lawsuit quite a few years ago wherein amounts were paid by the Developer for future major expenditures for the repair or replacement of major recreational facilities. The amounts were negotiated and agreed upon by the resident/plaintiffs, and approved by the court.

The decision on the major replacement of that Rec center was agreed upon by the Recreation Authority board, who are all elected residents.

We’re on our own dime on this one.

"dime"?

Proof ?

The First Responders Rec Center was funded partially by the developer as part of the negotiations of adding 300 new homes to district 4. In addition 300 new amenity fees per year were added to The AAC coffers. Look at the AAC balance sheet - the money is there to rebuild Paradise Rec Center. It has always been earmarked for either upgrade or replacement. One of the few times a local government had a long range plan and stuck with it. My hat is off to the AAC.