[Mrs.Guy]

Originally Posted by jarodrig

GoldWingNut did a nice video regarding the topic….

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by jarodrig

GoldWingNut did a nice video regarding the topic….

Yes he has...here's the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDjafwcRtQg

the discussion on the amenity fees starts around the 5:50 mark.

[dyendell]

I agree especially since the older areas require way more maintenance and upkeep and repairs than new areas. Shrubs , hedges and trees require trimming; rec centers, pools etc need repair; infrastructure needs upkeep/repair; roads and golf courses need redone etc. way more maintenance than new areas so when old time residents complain about the new areas they need to take a step back and rethink old vs new expense costs.

[Maybelle]

Originally Posted by RICH1

I believe our fees are appropriate for what we receive in return…

What facts are you basing this on?

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Maybelle

What facts are you basing this on?

One would guess they know what they pay each month and they "believe" it is worth that amount...

What "facts" would change that "belief"?

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by Maybelle

What facts are you basing this on?

I can't speak for RICH1, but speaking for myself, I feel the amount I pay each month in amenity fee is a bargain given the amenities I get to enjoy.

Among the amenities I enjoy are multiple swimming pools, executive golf courses, pickleball courts, rec centers, and nicely landscaped common areas.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by dyendell

I agree especially since the older areas require way more maintenance and upkeep and repairs than new areas. Shrubs , hedges and trees require trimming; rec centers, pools etc need repair; infrastructure needs upkeep/repair; roads and golf courses need redone etc. way more maintenance than new areas so when old time residents complain about the new areas they need to take a step back and rethink old vs new expense costs.

Newer areas probably cost more to build initially.

[OhioBuckeye]

Well I would guess at least 80 to 90% goes to golf & all the seasonal plants.

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

Also found this to be informational - https://www.districtgov.org/departme...0Go%202022.pdf

Thank you for posting that!

AMENITY FEES
PAID MONTHLY ON BILL WITH SANITATION AND UTILITIES
Landscaping (Recreation and some Common Areas)
Stormwater System and Retention Basins
Community Watch
Recreation Centers and District Sponsored Activities
Gates and Postal Facilities
Executive Golf Courses
Villages Public Safety

As I’ve driven around The Villages following our recent rains, I’ve been grateful for our beautifully designed and maintained storm water system and retention basins. They work so well and look nice! When I go to activities in various recreation centers, I often notice and appreciate the neatness and cleanliness of these places. They are also attractive and in excellent repair. As I drive on the larger roads, I appreciate the lovely landscaping and the rarity of trash on the roads. I’m just continually delighted with what I am getting for my amenity dollars (and at such a low price!), even though I don’t use the swimming pools or golf courses. Thank you to all the people who make this possible!

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by OhioBuckeye

Well I would guess at least 80 to 90% goes to golf & all the seasonal plants.

Based on???????

Pools are very expensive to maintain and we have over 100 of them, all heated
Rec centers are cooled (and heated) and need cleaning and repairs
Common area lawns are mowed, bushes trimmed weekly. Flowers are only changed 4x/year.
Parking lots and MMPs need maintenance and repair
Community watch
Manned gates
And of course 43 exec golf courses need water, fertilizer and mowing. But 80-90%??? I'm not so sure.

[Luggage]

Use the phone ....

Originally Posted by laker14

that's exactly where i was looking, and just searched again. The budget i find seems to deal entirely with the "maintenance assessment" money. I see no line item for "amenity fees" collected, and i see no line items that would pertain to what i understand to be the expenses associated with the amenities, i.e. Executive golf maintenance , rec center maintenance, pools, pickleball, tennis etc etc

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by OhioBuckeye

Well I would guess at least 80 to 90% goes to golf & all the seasonal plants.

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Based on???????

Pools are very expensive to maintain and we have over 100 of them, all heated
Rec centers are cooled (and heated) and need cleaning and repairs
Common area lawns are mowed, bushes trimmed weekly. Flowers are only changed 4x/year.
Parking lots and MMPs need maintenance and repair
Community watch
Manned gates
And of course 43 exec golf courses need water, fertilizer and mowing. But 80-90%??? I'm not so sure.

Guessing is unnecessary, the budget is available online.

The SLCDD/SLAD budget shows $77M revenue. A few of the expenses are:
$2.2M Landscaping
$2.8M Golf mgmt svcs
$1.8M Pool maintenance
$3.0M Buildings
$7.8M Principal
$15.5M Interest

Principal and Interest alone make up 30% of the budget leaving less than 70% for everything else

While there are expenses for golf other than just the management services, it is a long way from $5M (landscaping included) to $60M (80% of the amenity budget)

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by OhioBuckeye

Well I would guess at least 80 to 90% goes to golf & all the seasonal plants.

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Based on???????

Pools are very expensive to maintain and we have over 100 of them, all heated
Rec centers are cooled (and heated) and need cleaning and repairs
Common area lawns are mowed, bushes trimmed weekly. Flowers are only changed 4x/year.
Parking lots and MMPs need maintenance and repair
Community watch
Manned gates
And of course 43 exec golf courses need water, fertilizer and mowing. But 80-90%??? I'm not so sure.

No need to guess wildly. From the link I posted in post 17, and repost here https://www.districtgov.org/PDFView/...20220624sl0101

FY '21-'22
Amenity Fees Collected: 72M
Pool Maintenance : 1.8M
Golf Management Srvc: 2.9M
Recreation Services 6.9M
Landscaping Recurring 1.7M
Landscaping non-recurring .5M


I won't pretend to know what all of these items break down into, I assume those pickleballs are somewhere in that 6.9M.
Don Wiley graciously PM'd me and offered to explain the budget to me in as much detail as I desire, but as busy as he undoubtedly is, I don't want to drain any more of his time. It is interesting to read the whole table of expenses. There are a lot of items I'd have never thought of, and they do add up to big bucks.

[quietpine]

It’s not a fair system. Why not have amenities subscriptions? You choose which amenities you want to use and pay for them only. I don’t play golf or pickle ball, why should I pay for those amenities. I know the answer, the exec golf courses would become so expensive that few would pay to use them and they would be ripe for Apartments, Villas and commercial development.

[OhioBuckeye]

Yea, your guess is as good as mine!