[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by yankygrl

Also you can “buy” one of the manufactured homes on the historic side but what I’ve been told is they have to be removed as the no longer meet code requirements and then you have to build a new home, stick and vinyl or concrete and stucco. In any event it’s going to cost you. A while back TV was purchasing these homes and doing exactly that then selling them.

That is all completely not true, except for the last sentence.

In fact, if you choose to buy a tear-down and replace it, you can replace it with another manufactured home. It's your choice; some people have replacements rolled in on flatbed trucks, some have them built on site.

What IS required, is that if you do a window replacement of an older manufactured home, the replacement must meet certain minimum hurricane standards. The original windows did not. If you're just replacing a broken glass you can replace that with a matching piece. But if you're buying a whole new frame, it has to meet those standards.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

Here's information on the Amenity Fee

The Amenity Fee (part 1) and The Villages 7-26-2020 Construction Update - YouTube
The Amenity Fee (part 2) and The Villages 8/17/20 Construction Update - YouTube

Your wife's perception about golf's budget cost is very common, but wrong. Golf accounts for about 3% of the total expenditures of the combined amenity districts budgets.

I watched part one and didn't see any expenses for executive golf course maintenance.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

That is all completely not true, except for the last sentence.

In fact, if you choose to buy a tear-down and replace it, you can replace it with another manufactured home. It's your choice; some people have replacements rolled in on flatbed trucks, some have them built on site.

What IS required, is that if you do a window replacement of an older manufactured home, the replacement must meet certain minimum hurricane standards. The original windows did not. If you're just replacing a broken glass you can replace that with a matching piece. But if you're buying a whole new frame, it has to meet those standards.

I don't believe that the last sentence is true either. TV was buying them, removing them and building site built homes on the lots. They are now buying them and removing the old manufactured homes and selling the lots.

My understanding was that they were donating the manufactured homes that were in good shape to Habitat for Humanity. They are stored behind the Daily Sun building on Rolling Acres Road.

What is also true is that you don't have to use the Villages builder or build any of their models. Many people have chosen other builders and designed their own home.

[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

I watched part one and didn't see any expenses for executive golf course maintenance.

It's $4.2M for the executive courses, it's listed as Golf Management Services. Here's links to 2 sections of the video that discuss it (each link goes to a different time marker).

The Amenity Fee (part 1) and The Villages 7-26-2020 Construction Update - YouTube

The Amenity Fee (part 1) and The Villages 7-26-2020 Construction Update - YouTube

[wlasowicz]

I see by the answers to my post about amenities that some people have been replying that HOA are higher at other retirement communities. I have done some research my self and yes they may be higher but from what I have seen they are not apples to apples. From what I read yes it may be a higher HOA but lawn service on your property and common area is included , trash pickup ( which is a separate bill item on your village CDD bill ) irrigation and other service depending where you look which you have to pay extra if you chose to your own in the villages.

[wlasowicz]

What I like to see is more greater breakdown of budget expenses for each general categories . I know CDD officials see this data. It would give residents more transpacery How as resident do we know if a particular contractor is receiving a lot of contracts which could be a conflict of interest because they be a family member or finical supporter of a board member or the builder and so forth. If that information is out there could someone point out where it could be found. The only thing I have found on CDD page is the budgets in general categories.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by wlasowicz

What I like to see is more greater breakdown of budget expenses for each general categories .

Have you asked for it??

[wlasowicz]

Why should I ask for it? The CDD is a public department. They should be posting it. The town government up north which is still my full time residents for good or bad. When the budget is made up it is available for review for the public comment before vote. Every department is listed in detail. Lets take the town clerk for example its lists total budget for the clerks office then it broken down where the money is coming from whether it from taxes or collect fees Then it list expenses Clerk's salary, total staff salary ,benefit cost for the department, office supplies, computers and etc. Any money moving in or out the town budget going to another government agency is listed. Whether I like how the money is spent is another question but it does show transpacery of your tax dollars
The tax dollars whether it called amenity fee or maintenance assessment its money in the villages is coming out your pocket to support public services

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by wlasowicz

Why should I ask for it?

[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by wlasowicz

Why should I ask for it? The CDD is a public department. They should be posting it. The town government up north which is still my full time residents for good or bad. When the budget is made up it is available for review for the public comment before vote. Every department is listed in detail. Lets take the town clerk for example its lists total budget for the clerks office then it broken down where the money is coming from whether it from taxes or collect fees Then it list expenses Clerk's salary, total staff salary ,benefit cost for the department, office supplies, computers and etc. Any money moving in or out the town budget going to another government agency is listed. Whether I like how the money is spent is another question but it does show transpacery of your tax dollars
The tax dollars whether it called amenity fee or maintenance assessment its money in the villages is coming out your pocket to support public services

Interesting comment. Different governmental bodies have different reporting and budgeting requirements. In the case of the CDDs we have an inter-local government agreement with the VCCDD to provide district staffing to support individual district operations, they are not direct employees of the individual CDDs so such breakouts are not required.

Every contract entered into by the CDDs is available for public review under Florida's Sunshine Laws. You can contact the District Clerk for this and most other any information on the budgeting process, costs, and expenditures.

Since you are so very interested in the budgets of the CDDs I have to ask you a question. Did you attend the budget workshop for your CDD? This is the first step in getting all your questions answered. So far this month these have occurred for all except for CDDs 1-4 and NSCUDD which happen next week?

In the last 2 weeks I presided over both the CDD10 and PWAC budget workshops. The PWAC workshop had 2 residents in attendance and CDD-10 had ZERO. Total number of resident questions, comments, or other input - ZERO. My guess, based on 7 years of doing these budgets in The Villages, most of the other CDDs had a similar turnout.

[wlasowicz]

Unfortunately I did not attend any work shops for the CDD. Not being a full time resident and only down at my home 1 to 2 weeks of the year . which the majority of my time I'm busy doing a top to bottom cleaning and repairs that can be done in the time frame I have. to try to keep my place in as new condition. So the only information I get is from TOV which you have to take with a grain of salt. Your video's Don which are well done and when I take the time to look at the district page. I would say I am looking at information more so now so i am a more informed consumer to make better decision for wife and myself when the time comes to purchase a new home whether it be in the villages or elsewhere. I agree the villages does offer a lot and from when I am down there does a good job of maintaining the public areas.