[BBBnWitty]

Originally Posted by MandoMan

While the slight increase may be based on the Consumer Price Index, the fact remains that the cost of providing the amenities we enjoy is going up. Salaries have gone up. The cost of supplies has gone up. The cost of fuel has gone up. We have to split that cost between us. If we don’t like the cost going up, we can cut out some amenities. What amenities are you willing to give up in order to save yourself $14 a month? The Neighborhood Watch? Flowers along the roadways? Lawn mowing along the roadways? Picking up litter all over the place? Nightly entertainment at the town squares?

The Villages hires folks to pick up litter? Just curious. Thanks.

[MartinSE]

Originally Posted by BBBnWitty

The Villages hires folks to pick up litter? Just curious. Thanks.

Not "The Villages" which normally means the dev's. But the CCD for each area do, and a lot more. I saw a road vacuum going down our road the other night after midnight. They don't do that out of the kindness of their hearts, they are paid.

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by MandoMan

While the slight increase may be based on the Consumer Price Index, the fact remains that the cost of providing the amenities we enjoy is going up. Salaries have gone up. The cost of supplies has gone up. The cost of fuel has gone up. We have to split that cost between us. If we don’t like the cost going up, we can cut out some amenities. What amenities are you willing to give up in order to save yourself $14 a month? The Neighborhood Watch? Flowers along the roadways? Lawn mowing along the roadways? Picking up litter all over the place? Nightly entertainment at the town squares?

The faux water tower and windmill in Brownwood.

[Speedie]

Cut back on community watch. I can check my own garage door
Main benifit goes to protecting the homes under construction from theft

[Speedie]

Tie the increase to the annual SS increase %

[biker1]

SS increases are tied to the CPI-W increase for the 3rd quarter compared to the previous 3rd quarter. Amenity increases appear to be tied to CPI-U increase for the month around when you signed the sales contract. CPI-W and CPI-U weigh the various expenditure categories differently but are generally pretty close to each other.

Originally Posted by Speedie

Tie the increase to the annual SS increase %

[Villages Kahuna]

For all you golfers coming down for the “free” golf, the total of Amenity Fees plus Trail Fees is a real chunk of change—well over $150 a month!

[davem4616]

the fees are only going to go up

as long at TV continues to have an attractive 'park like' atmosphere...I guess I'm okay with the increases

[noslices1]

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

For all you golfers coming down for the “free” golf, the total of Amenity Fees plus Trail Fees is a real chunk of change—well over $150 a month!

Not just golf, but pools and rec centers and gate guards and Community Watch, beautification and many other items that you don’t think of. All this stuff costs $$$ and prices are going up.

[frose]

cut down on all of the above.

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by Speedie

Cut back on community watch. I can check my own garage door
Main benifit goes to protecting the homes under construction from theft

No clue

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by frose

cut down on all of the above.

Happy to live in a place we can be proud of

[HIgolfers]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

We do get a lot for our amenity fee so no complaints here.

Originally Posted by MandoMan

While the slight increase may be based on the Consumer Price Index, the fact remains that the cost of providing the amenities we enjoy is going up. Salaries have gone up. The cost of supplies has gone up. The cost of fuel has gone up. We have to split that cost between us. If we don’t like the cost going up, we can cut out some amenities. What amenities are you willing to give up in order to save yourself $14 a month? The Neighborhood Watch? Flowers along the roadways? Lawn mowing along the roadways? Picking up litter all over the place? Nightly entertainment at the town squares?

I don’t think flowers need to be replaced 3-4 times a year. I don’t understand why they don’t just plant perennials. Could still look nice.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by HIgolfers

I don’t think flowers need to be replaced 3-4 times a year. I don’t understand why they don’t just plant perennials. Could still look nice.

Would guess we see flowers longer the way they do it than via perennials

[biker1]

I believe the flowers that you see at the entrances to the different Villages, roundabouts, etc. come out of the Maintenance Fee, a line item on your property taxes.

Originally Posted by HIgolfers

I don’t think flowers need to be replaced 3-4 times a year. I don’t understand why they don’t just plant perennials. Could still look nice.