[Number 10 GI]

When I was a young private in the Army I definitely had opinions about senior leadership and how things should work. After I became a senior leader I found out how difficult it was to effect change in the system. A senior NCO or even a full Colonel only had limited power to change policy. I found out as a senior NCO the view dramatically changed when you were looking out instead of inward with limited knowledge of the workings of the system.
I would wager to say that none of the critics of the county government have even seen the budget for the county and know where the tax monies are spent. The overall budget doesn't tell you much, you need to see the individual budgets for the different departments. Is there waste, of course there is, and it should be dealt with but to just make blanket statements about what to do without this information is foolish. So far all I've read on this topic through 10 million posts is that no one has an informed idea on what is happening or what to do. It's all opinion that is not based on any thorough understanding of the cost to run the county.

[Worldseries27]

Originally Posted by number 10 gi

when i was a young private in the army i definitely had opinions about senior leadership and how things should work. After i became a senior leader i found out how difficult it was to effect change in the system. A senior nco or even a full colonel only had limited power to change policy. I found out as a senior nco the view dramatically changed when you were looking out instead of inward with limited knowledge of the workings of the system.
I would wager to say that none of the critics of the county government have even seen the budget for the county and know where the tax monies are spent. The overall budget doesn't tell you much, you need to see the individual budgets for the different departments. Is there waste, of course there is, and it should be dealt with but to just make blanket statements about what to do without this information is foolish. So far all i've read on this topic through 10 million posts is that no one has an informed idea on what is happening or what to do. It's all opinion that is not based on any thorough understanding of the cost to run the county.

report!!?

Suh!

S.n.a.f.u.

Dismissed!!

Yes suh!

[CWGUY]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

There are numerous ways to interpret what he wrote.

One is what you said. The other is he was bought by the developer.

I am not sure but time will tell.

I'm starting to figure it out..... in a post not to long ago, you asked "who owns Sheriff Farmer" and now you insinuate maybe a newly elected County Commissioner was possibly "bought"

My conclusion...... IMHO you can take guy out of NYC, but you can't take the NYC out of the guy!

Sometimes I am embarrassed to say "I am from N.Y." People from the city say "New York" and a lot of us others say "Up state New York"...... 2 different worlds.

Like I have said before I've lived here for over 17 years and my taxes are less now than when we first arrived. Someone at the County level has been doing something right! Another thing nobody seems to mention is that the Developers and their companies are probably the biggest tax payer in Sumter County.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by drrichard

AMAZING COINCIDENCE - Word for word, EXACTLY the same reply I got from Estep!!

Didnt think he wrote the answer just for me. That is why I put it on here

[bobnyce]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

(see if you have learned anything from other threads)


And how much is the "reasonable impact fee" according to EMS plan??

It is very simple. The cost of the Impact for roads, schools, traffic, extra police etc. are all estimated based upon the "Impact" of the new building whether residential or commercial. Someone knows what that costs.

Impact Fees should be set for each home, in the case of residential, to pay for the new infrastructure and then the property taxes from the new homes should pay for the ongoing maintenance.

The estimated amount of impact is what the Sumter Commissioners borrowed. Whatever the cost of that annual repayment should now be covered by future impact fees and then reduce taxes by an equal amount of the new impact fees each year!

Someone has to pay the bill for all the new infrastructure. Should it be the current residents or the new residents as part of the price of their new home.

The developer never pays anything they add it to the upfront price of the product, in this case each home sold. And, the developer has no problem adding a bond to the home to pay for those improvements made but the county should raise that money on the backs of all residents!

So, everyone calm down. This can all be calculated by qualified people. The only question is who pays the bill. As in every case it is the consumer and taxpayer and most of the time they are the same person.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by CWGUY

I'm starting to figure it out..... in a post not to long ago, you asked "who owns Sheriff Farmer" and now you insinuate maybe a newly elected County Commissioner was possibly "bought"

My conclusion...... IMHO you can take guy out of NYC, but you can't take the NYC out of the guy!

Sometimes I am embarrassed to say "I am from N.Y." People from the city say "New York" and a lot of us others say "Up state New York"...... 2 different worlds.

Like I have said before I've lived here for over 17 years and my taxes are less now than when we first arrived. Someone at the County level has been doing something right! Another thing nobody seems to mention is that the Developers and their companies are probably the biggest tax payer in Sumter County.

If you recall I reconsidered my comment about Sheriff Farmer and than took it down. I do not think he should be involved with politics and he went out of his way to endorse the former commissioners.

Now I am not sure about the intentions of Mr Estrep and voiced my opinion to him. What he wrote back to me and others can be taken several ways and time will tell what will happen.

IMHO I think the developer got himself a sweetheart deal on the backs of the residents of the county.

I am entitled to my opinion and you are entitled to yours. Have no idea what being from NYC has to do with it.

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Yep---I'm sure everyone here will get right on that

I understand your cynicism, "me too", but, maybe, just maybe (?) if the people, the huddled masses who only count when their votes are coveted, would unite and see if democracy can once again work; that we elect those who have offered to go to an office to be OUR representative, not to find a life long career ? Just saying maybe when the masses have too long been the doormat, it teaches others who really do not have a servant's heart, that politics is an idea position and the only necessary skill is to control and manipulate people psychologically. We "could" turn this around, maybe even around the whole country ? Make party affiliation less a variable when we vote, and maybe character, past behavior, etc. more important ? How many people know that our forefathers looked for candidates who were willing to make sacrifices ? Men left their farms, they gave up their trades or small businesses, often their families suffered for this too, they had less income with the husband off to the congress, the wife and children could not make as much income as when the husband was there, but they understood that it was primary to keep a democracy that honest people serve, even if it was going to be a personal and financial sacrifice. Just some thoughts that begin here with our grassroots situation. In a "normal" town, we'd have a mayor, a council, but this is what we have, but that does not mean be doormats ?

[jjombrello]

I think this is just a lot of p'ing and m'ing. My taxes are lower now (20020) than what they were in from 1999 thru 2006. I've enjoyed years of taxes being reduced because of good choices by our county board. Remember these people are county commissioners and what's good for the county is good for TV. Just look at how this poor county has prospered and grown over the last 20 to 30 years.

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by Advogado

Everyone did get "right on" this issue in the last election and voted out the three Developer puppet Commissioners by a 2-to-1 margin. Apparently you are unconcerned about good government.

"Good government", (if you mean honest, moral men and women, who have enough self-esteem that they don't need to boost their egos by becoming wealthy, or by "knowing & socializing" with the right people, to make them feel better about who they are) is hard to find these days everywhere. I would guess 85% of the people we socialize with never lift a finger to find out all the details, past judgments, moral behaviors, etc. of even local judges before they go to the poles anywhere and just mark "retain, retain, retain". Must be getting old, people honestly do not care ! Hard to believe, we have such a precious, fragile thing in our democracy. Why, how does this happen ? Education ? Is it because we don't emphasize history and really explain how difficult it is for a people/country to retain it ? My teachers in ALL grades nearly "beat" it into our heads how many people have give up their lives rather than let any aspect of other forms of government insidiously creep in ! We used to color pictures (made on the "ditto", the purple passion machine, anyone remember those ?) of the flag raising on Iwo Jima , of ALL the D.C. monuments and there were lessons on them every year; veteran's day, flag day, Constitution day, Independence day, Memorial day, and all the rest. Our upper elementary grand children have only heard of a couple of them, and know very little of why we even have them. They love fireworks.... just glad it happens each year is all.

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by jbrown132

This is what I know from viewing this with my own eyes. Prior to the 25% increase the Developer was building at fever pitch rate. Businesses were being built all over the place, so without the 25% everything was pretty much as it had been. Nothing appeared to have slowed things down and there was no shortfall of money in Sumter County as the tax base was continually increasing. My only thought is the Developer needed the extra revenue not for infrastructure but to continue to buy large swathes of land for future development and have the taxpayer pay for it. Maybe all wrong but just my thought on the matter.

Well, of course your thoughts "could" be incorrect, but they are a logical, rational, conclusion ! Better than so much of he wild speculation people sometimes claim to have, and leave the rest who read it to try to figure out how a series of logical happenings lead to their conclusion. Just emotion ? Maybe logic, research, and debate are no longer taught in our public school system ? Maybe the residents of any community don't even bother to construct the curriculum that is right for their local schools any these days ? Don't even think of it as one of their very important liberties, one designated as their/our duty, to determine what is taught and how it is to be taught in our schools. I knew when all of us kids in the neighborhood would get to go to our grandma's .....NO parents missed school board night !

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

A reply worthy of any government official, that states nothing, can be interpreted in many ways, and paves the way to change direction at any time.
Brilliant!

You've made an outstanding analysis of Political "hogwash", sounds beautiful, intelligent, educated, and sincere.... he who masters this kind of smooth, impressive rhetoric, manages to be completely vague, yet sound "very academic and dedicated", it's a gift, YOU say it's "brilliant", I agree, I'd add it's also MASTERFUL. I seldom see people who recognize what you have and called it to task ! Good for you !

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

I'm not sure if it was false promises or ignorance (they thought they could reverse the 25%).


Either way, the voters were ignorant to vote based on a promise with no funding plan.

Oh so correct on that one ! Right on !

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by jjombrello

I think this is just a lot of p'ing and m'ing. My taxes are lower now (20020) than what they were in from 1999 thru 2006. I've enjoyed years of taxes being reduced because of good choices by our county board. Remember these people are county commissioners and what's good for the county is good for TV. Just look at how this poor county has prospered and grown over the last 20 to 30 years.

Seriously? You mean you got your 25% increase from last year reimbursed? I didn’t. Or you are not in Sumter county in the first place.

[CWGUY]

Originally Posted by Velvet

Seriously? You mean you got your 25% increase from last year reimbursed? I didn’t. Or you are not in Sumter county in the first place.

Nobody said reimbursed but you. This poster is like me and been here awhile. 2 minutes ago I looked up my 2006 (as far back as you can go online) and compared them to my (2020) last tax bill. Amount paid to Sumter Co. for property taxes and amount in school taxes both lower last bill. Millage Rate lower and assessment higher. I'm a happy camper!

Thank you Sumter Co. Leadership during those years.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by CWGUY

Nobody said reimbursed but you. This poster is like me and been here awhile. 2 minutes ago I looked up my 2006 (as far back as you can go online) and compared them to my (2020) last tax bill. Amount paid to Sumter Co. for property taxes and amount in school taxes both lower last bill. Millage Rate lower and assessment higher. I'm a happy camper!

Thank you Sumter Co. Leadership during those years.

Consider that this is not the same county as it was back in 2006. The county has grown tremendously and has had a huge influx of revenue.

As a result of good fiscal management while in the middle of a boom they were able to reduce taxes by a bit each year and kudos to the commissioners.

The problem is the developer has now realized that they can increase their profit margin by passing on costs to the residents of the county.

Good for them but not quite as good to the rest of us.

I still believe their is a happy medium for all but allowing taxes to be further reduced by some percentage.