[Normal]

With the new tax rates now being written into constitutional law, what will be the adjustments by county and city governments?

We know tourist revenue will increase, we know impact fees can be rewritten and there are caps for the value assessed on residential homes. We also know business taxes and fuel taxes have limits for general fund usage.

Does anyone have suggestions to help reduce wast in Sumter county, Wildwood, Leesburg, Fruitland Park or Lady Lake?

[dewilson58]

Hope everyone participates in the Budget Workshops.

[Bill14564]

With all the discussion of the amendment already it's hard to believe these questions are still being asked.

Tax rates are NOT written into the constitution. Homestead exemption amounts were changed and the maximum increase in assessed value for non-homestead properties was changed but neither of those are tax rates.

Tourist taxes will be collected but their use is limited by law.

Impact fees could always be changed (though Tallahassee preempted a Sumter County change a few years ago) but again, their use is limited.

But do we know what adjustments will be made? Two points:
1. That was a major point of the no-on-3 position. This amendment throws a wrench in the works to break things but provides zero information on how they will be fixed.

2. As was discussed several times, the County has already presented a projected budget that takes into account this amendment passing. It has been available since sometime in June or July.

It would have been nice if this had been a concern BEFORE voting for the amendment but that ship has now sailed. As was suggested above, these questions can be answered at the budget workshops next year.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

With all the discussion of the amendment already it's hard to believe these questions are still being asked.

Tax rates are NOT written into the constitution. Homestead exemption amounts were changed and the maximum increase in assessed value for non-homestead properties was changed but neither of those are tax rates.

Tourist taxes will be collected but their use is limited by law.

Impact fees could always be changed (though Tallahassee preempted a Sumter County change a few years ago) but again, their use is limited.

But do we know what adjustments will be made? Two points:
1. That was a major point of the no-on-3 position. This amendment throws a wrench in the works to break things but provides zero information on how they will be fixed.

2. As was discussed several times, the County has already presented a projected budget that takes into account this amendment passing. It has been available since sometime in June or July.

It would have been nice if this had been a concern BEFORE voting for the amendment but that ship has now sailed. As was suggested above, these questions can be answered at the budget workshops next year.

We will see what impact this has locally

Meanwhile, we now have a huge problem on a larger scale.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

We will see what impact this has locally

Yep. I think there may still be a surprise or two.

The impact will come slowly. The proposed budget around July and new tax bill in October. There my be some early service adjustments in anticipation to working under the new budget but the real changes won't happen for another 14 months or so.

Meanwhile, we now have a huge problem on a larger scale.

As always, you and I are going to disagree on this. Color doesn't matter to me and actions speak louder than words. We'll have to see what actual changes occur to decide whether it's a problem or a blessing.

[Moderator]

Please keep this discussion focused on the New Sumter County Budget.

Off topic comments, national political tangents, ridicule, and assumptions about other voters’ motives are not welcome..

Avoid comments that even hint of politics.

Support factual claims with reliable sources and clearly distinguish predictions from announced changes.

Thank you to contribute respectfully.

[Joecooool418]

They have already said they will be cutting about 50 jobs and eliminating a bunch of services. They said eventually they will have to cut into the police and fire department too.

The first services they specifically mentioned were veterans' services, elderly transportation services, parks, libraries, and the animal shelters.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Joecooool418

They have already said they will be cutting about 50 jobs and eliminating a bunch of services. They said eventually they will have to cut into the police and fire department too.

The first services they specifically mentioned were veterans' services, elderly transportation services, parks, libraries, and the animal shelters.

Any mention of cutting administrators????

[Joecooool418]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Any mention of cutting administrators????

Employees will be the last thing they cut.

[ChuckWBarnhart]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

With all the discussion of the amendment already it's hard to believe these questions are still being asked.

Tax rates are NOT written into the constitution. Homestead exemption amounts were changed and the maximum increase in assessed value for non-homestead properties was changed but neither of those are tax rates.

Tourist taxes will be collected but their use is limited by law.

Impact fees could always be changed (though Tallahassee preempted a Sumter County change a few years ago) but again, their use is limited.

But do we know what adjustments will be made? Two points:
1. That was a major point of the no-on-3 position. This amendment throws a wrench in the works to break things but provides zero information on how they will be fixed.

2. As was discussed several times, the County has already presented a projected budget that takes into account this amendment passing. It has been available since sometime in June or July.

It would have been nice if this had been a concern BEFORE voting for the amendment but that ship has now sailed. As was suggested above, these questions can be answered at the budget workshops next year.

This is a case of property taxes being eliminated.
In this case the city owns the public utilities.
Infrastructure and maintenance is being charged as fees.
Utilities that cost these people around $200.00 a month are now paying around $800.00 a month. Often times more than their mortgage or rent.
It's a case of pay me now or pay me later.

[RoboVil]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Any mention of cutting administrators????

Cutting administrators will be next to last I would guess. The budget had 8 new positions in it, I would guess they will not be filled now. Sumter has built a couple of new buildings for fire and swat team training so they did not have to leave the county, and maybe the building spree will slow down.

[Rzepecki]

Originally Posted by Joecooool418

Employees will be the last thing they cut.

How do you figure that? I believe “veterans' services, elderly transportation services, parks, libraries, and the animal shelters” all have employees who will be let go.

[DrMack]

Originally Posted by Rzepecki

How do you figure that? I believe “veterans' services, elderly transportation services, parks, libraries, and the animal shelters” all have employees who will be let go.

Veterans services are both federally and state funded. I don’t think there has been an announcement from the government about cutting their support.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by DrMack

Veterans services are both federally and state funded. I don’t think there has been an announcement from the government about cutting their support.

There is a county Veterans Service Office. From the alternate budget prepared by Sumter County in consideration of amendment 3 passing:

Veterans Service Office (VSO)

Before October 1, 2027, with the passage of Amendment 3, veterans will be able to work directly with the Federal Veterans Administration or work with another private or non-profit organization to gain support for filing for their benefits. The Veterans Service Office is neither a statutory nor interlocal agreement required service; therefore, it is planned for closure.

[rockyhyder]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

With all the discussion of the amendment already it's hard to believe these questions are still being asked.

Tax rates are NOT written into the constitution. Homestead exemption amounts were changed and the maximum increase in assessed value for non-homestead properties was changed but neither of those are tax rates.

Tourist taxes will be collected but their use is limited by law.

Impact fees could always be changed (though Tallahassee preempted a Sumter County change a few years ago) but again, their use is limited.

But do we know what adjustments will be made? Two points:
1. That was a major point of the no-on-3 position. This amendment throws a wrench in the works to break things but provides zero information on how they will be fixed.

2. As was discussed several times, the County has already presented a projected budget that takes into account this amendment passing. It has been available since sometime in June or July.

It would have been nice if this had been a concern BEFORE voting for the amendment but that ship has now sailed. As was suggested above, these questions can be answered at the budget workshops next year.

Bradley Arnold presented a “projected budget” in July designed to influence potential voters into voting against Amendment 3. For the very same reason the tax bills were delivered later this year. The actual budget will be very different from the “projected” budget because Commissioners have several tools at their disposal to limit the changes required by Amendment 3. They have sales tax, tourism taxes, gas taxes, GROWTH which will provide a significant increase, they can delay capital projects, refinance debt, etc. I worked in local government management for 25 years so I am very familiar with how county government works. There is a good reason 62% of us didn’t fall for the scare tactics, and it wasn’t because we are uneducated Bill!