City Taxes Paid
 

Most of properties in The Villages do not pay city taxes (can check on the Sumter County Treasurer tax bill research site). We pay about 1,300 per year to the distant town of Wildwood. I’m wondering where our tax money goes that most others near us do not pay? What are the benefits of being incorporated within the tax roles? Is this just a scam to get permissions for the developer to build? Should unincorporated Villages be incorporated into adjacent towns to boost the tax roles and assist the county? An unincorporated surcharge to the county?

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The Villages of Pine Ridge and Pine Hills are in the city of Fruitland Park, and they pay city taxes.

Yes
 

I know some do besides of us, but a majority don’t. Generally south of 44 pays to Wildwood. It put in more than a few addresses into the Sumter Tax system and most homes in the central area do not.

Can anyone explain what those of us living in Wildwood get for the $700 plus dollars we pay to Wildwood that those living outside of Wildwood don’t get??

Fire and water
 

For sure fire stations and city water. You do use the streets there more than we do and don’t pay a bond. Even a bigger mystery is why do we pay Leesburg electric for electricity? Maybe the lines need redrawn? Maybe get disincorporation on the ballot while Villages numbers exceed the actual township?

Most (all?) of the Villages in Sumter County north of 44 are not in any incorporated area and only pay Sumter County tax.

The City of Wildwood incorporated a lot of the area south of 44 so those Villagers pay Wildwood tax. Areas in Lake and Marion counties might have city taxes too (it sounds like Pine Hills does).

There was another thread a year or so ago asking what benefit Villagers received for paying Wildwood taxes. It didn't apply to me so I don't recall if there was ever a good answer.

To me, it feels like Wildwood (and Leesburg) saw the writing on the wall and took steps to incorporate the areas before the Villages built on them. It is not inconceivable that there was an agreement between the Villages and the cities to facilitate the incorporation in return for favorable zoning decisions but I have nothing to back that up.

Should unincorporated Villages be grabbed up by the city of Wildwood to fatten their tax purses? Absolutely not! The Villages are a boon to Wildwood without additional taxation. Wildwood provides little (nothing?) to the Villages yet receives business income from them. If there are Wildwood services that I could receive if I paid additional taxes I don't know what they are and I'm certainly not missing them.

Unincorporated surcharge to the county? That would be called a tax increase; the last substantial increase was added in 2018. There are three ex-commissioners who can attribute their defeat at least partially to that surcharge.

The joy of living within the city limits of Wildwood.

What do those living in the 5 boroughs of NYC get for their city taxes that residents of surrounding towns don't get? More crime, homeless on the street, litter, pollution, and hookers for a start. So, I guess you get what you pay for:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

My Federal income tax bill is higher than everything else that I spend money on combined.

Am I complaining? Yes, I am.

What do TV residents get from the Wildwood city tax? More police presence in the form of traffic enforcement and little else.

I was going to say something similar for Pine Ridge & Pine Hills, they get to pay the higher rates in Lake county & taxes to Fruitland Park & they get: police who lurk near stop signs looking for Villagers who don't come to a complete stop & thereby garner a hefty fine. (I'm not supporting the Villagers who only slow at stop signs, I think everyone should stop. But I also don't support those picking the low hanging fruit).

And we thought we escaped outlandish taxes. They get it one way or the other.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=valVixMpzQY

Most of the Villages land that is in Wildwood was annexed by Wildwood when the old owners of the land agreed to it. Old timers could tell you the stories about how Wildwood dealt with the developer when they were eyeing what is now Trailwinds/Beaumont.

I would say Wildwood has taken money from the Federal Gov and is mass populating the area now with the "affordable" housing you see popping up everywhere. T V is boosting $$ for Wildwood while T V sees little if no return. Just a lot more traffic and challenged medical care. Hey whatever happened to that massive southern end hospital planned the T V used for sales ? Oh... same predestined fate as the Brownwood theater? Lol

nothing much