[villages07]

There was a brief mention in the Daily Sun about an item on the Sumter County Commissioners board meeting agenda .... about a grant application to support nightly entertainment at the 2 Sumter County Town Squares... Lake Sumter and Brownwood.

I did a little digging on the Sumter County Commissioners website, located the agenda item and supporting documents. It's under Section E Contracts and Agreements, item #2

http://www.sumtercountyfl.gov/Files/.../01222013.html

Anyway, it appears that the Villages applied to The Sumter County Tourism Development Council for a grant to help support nightly entertainment at LSL and Brownwood for period from 1/22-9/30/2013 (end of the fiscal year). The grant is for $60K with a $50K match by the Villages. The grant is justified by saying the nightly entertainment brings in many visitors, promotes the county, and generates tourist tax revenue.

Hmmm, this is a clever way to help underwrite the expense of nightly entertainment which we have always been told was paid for by the commercial businesses and the Developer.

Now, all citizens of Sumter County (not just Villagers) will contribute via our tax payments to the county. I am assuming, but have not verified, that the Tourist Council grant funds come from county tax revenues and not some state or federal source.

Hopefully, this will generate some thoughtful discussion and not turn into a flame the Developer tirade. The good news is there is a plan to continue entertainment. The bad news is we (and all citizens of Sumter) will indirectly pay part of the bill.

[mickey100]

Well, I guess we should have seen that coming.

[Cantwaittoarrive]

Not a suprise to me. If there is a grant that the developer can apply for to defer cost why wouldn't they?

[Sleeper]

Doubt this is the first year for souce of funding...."he" is a sharp business man!

[villages07]

Originally Posted by BMWrider

Doubt this is the first year for souce of funding...."he" is a sharp business man!

Actually, somewhere in all the documents it did indicate that this is the first year for this type of grant funding.

But, no doubt, not the last.

[DandyGirl]

I don't mind contributing to the cost of the entertainment. It's still cheaper than going to a night club to get live entertainment.

[villagerjack]

Sounds OK. to me. The entertainment is available to everyone so whats the fuss? In the end if more rateables are attracted by the entertainment it probably lowers taxes for all residents. Do you know if this covers the entire cost of the bands playing in 2 squares 7 nights a week? If Sumter has 60,000 residents it would be about a dollar a year or 2 cents a week fir each resident?

[Uptown Girl]

Wait... ALL grants come from our tax money, so we are funding all sorts of things, whether we are aware of them or not, partake of them or not, or like them or not.
As this grant money is there for the asking, I don't see the problem.
If I were the Developer and saw that this was now available, I'd give it a shot, why not? It's not wrong or deceitful to do so.

We know the Developer is not legally bound to provide entertainment. That they want to make this a continuing thing AND keep providing jobs for musicians (in a wholesome atmosphere, I might add) is a very cool thing in my book.

[mickey100]

I'm not sure the number of visitors/taxes generated would be much different without the entertainment. But not for us to decide. Hopefully the legislators will spend the money in a way that is best for the majority of their constituents.

[aln]

While the developer starts all this, it befalls us and the businesses to keep it rolling.
If the businesses can get some help, I say great.
Just like us as residents should be mindful of turning off lights in public access areas if we're the last to leave, turning off water in rest rooms picking up after ourselves in parks & downtown etc etc.

[Cisco Kid]

I sure wish I could remove all the crap off my tax bill I don't use or want the money to go too. But then I am sure they know best for me.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Originally Posted by Cisco Kid

I sure wish I could remove all the crap off my tax bill I don't use or want the money to go too. But then I am sure they know best for me.

Sell your place - that'll fix it!



Bill

[billethkid]

the developer sold the entrtainment segment of TV to one of the bands and wife (Vesco)...they ran it before the sale (developer insider).

As discussed on previous threads on the subject/rumor of "no entertainment on the squares in 2013"....the entertainment was obviously subsidized by the developer for obvious marketing purposes.

It is now a for profit, so called privately ownwd business with a much different objective....the profitability of their business!!! And like many other businesses do they will pursue funding from any source possible to increase their bottom line.

They will eliminate things like they did parades that did not turn a profit (another developer subsidized activity).

There are very many more activities that are sponsored/subsidized by the developer that will be privitized as build out is approached. Which simply means additional changes to things we have become accustomed to being a part of TV Lifestyle........as long as the developer was or remained involved.

As there have been many changes in the 9 years we have been here and events we used enjoy have been eliminated and more will be looking forward.

TV will still be a no equal place to live......even without the developer subsidized niceties.

btk

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Cantwaittoarrive

Not a suprise to me. If there is a grant that the developer can apply for to defer cost why wouldn't they?

The entertainment is no longer owned by The Developer. It has been sold to the Vescos.

Please read Billy's explanation above. I should have read it before I replied.

[NotGolfer]

The Morse Family are business people. They aren't in the "business" to give us free hand-outs! Grants have been around for a long time and this is an excellant way to subsidize _______(fill in the blank).

We have a family member who has a hereditary degenerative disease. This person relies on grants to have a home, a full-time caregiver and more. I see nothing wrong in applying for grants when one qualifies. This person has to re-apply each year.

If we didn't have the entertainment....would there be the crowds every night?? Doubt it. I personally know folks who live in retirement communities from outside T.V. who come over to listen, dance, shop and eat in the restaurants. On family I can think of live in Tavares. These are just one example........