[Dusty_Star]

Originally Posted by Normal

We need to do what Ocala was afraid of. We can vote for all the city council positions if we pay taxes to Wildwood. There are more than a few Villagers who vote. It’s time to upend this 100 dollar plus a month tax when we get nothing.

Joe Elliot and Julian Green terms expire in December 2024. We will have to wait til 2026 to cancel out the rest. The mayor’s seat is over in 2026. We might as well have a lockstep Villages town.

You are right, the way to relief is to populate the city council. The two seats coming up next November will need candidates & a campaign, starting: now. The 2026 seats have a little more time for planing.

[pauld315]

For historical purposes, the developer allowed Wildwood to annex the property in the southern area when they began building there in hopes that it would improve Wildwood by providing the town a lot of tax revenue. Wildwood, back then, was a lot worse than it is today in terms of poverty and crime. As The Villages expanded southward they wanted to rid the area of that reputation in order to calm nerves of potential buyers and visitors to Brownwood. If you are going to blame anyone, blame The Villages for encouraging it.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by pauld315

For historical purposes, Gary Morse allowed Wildwood to annex the property from 466 A to 44 when they began building there in hopes that it would improve Wildwood by providing the town a lot of tax revenue. Wildwood, back then, was a lot worse than it is today in terms of poverty and crime. As The Villages expanded southward they wanted to rid the area of that reputation in order to calm nerves of potential buyers and visitors to Brownwood. If you are going to blame anyone, blame The Villages for encouraging it.

According to google maps, none of the Villages between 466A and 44 are in Wildwood. My property is between 466A and 44 but I do not pay Wildwood taxes.

Again from google maps, it appears a large section of the Villages south of 44 are within Wildwood. At the same time, it looks like Wildwood missed annexing a bunch of land. It would be interesting to learn how all that came to be.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

According to google maps, none of the Villages between 466A and 44 are in Wildwood. My property is between 466A and 44 but I do not pay Wildwood taxes.

Again from google maps, it appears a large section of the Villages south of 44 are within Wildwood. At the same time, it looks like Wildwood missed annexing a bunch of land. It would be interesting to learn how all that came to be.

The township line is quite crooked. I noticed how it goes around to engulf some spots like the Neighborhood Walmart. They wanted the steak and none of the salad.

[RPDaly]

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[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

According to google maps, none of the Villages between 466A and 44 are in Wildwood. My property is between 466A and 44 but I do not pay Wildwood taxes.

Again from google maps, it appears a large section of the Villages south of 44 are within Wildwood. At the same time, it looks like Wildwood missed annexing a bunch of land. It would be interesting to learn how all that came to be.

I think the Alden Bungalows near Brownwood are in Wildwood.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by MandoMan

Apart from driving on 301, what do I get out of Wildwood? I eat at Casa Agave. I use the Post Office several times a year. I use the dry cleaner a couple times a year. I bought a set of tires in Wildwood. That’s it. But. Wildwood is growing fast, trying to dilute its crime rate by building lots of new houses and apartment complexes. I think Wildwood picks up a lot of money from the Trailwinds Village / Pinellas Plaza developments. This leaves the city cash flush, so it’s being spent on a city park and multistory parking garage that few Villagers will use. But the new construction means they also need to put in a much larger sewage plant, which is expensive. I think the mayor and city council are making a lot of smart decisions to improve the city, but I don’t think Villagers who are in Wildwood will be getting value for money. I wonder if that annexation of what is now Villages houses into Wildwood was a deal that had to be made by the developer to get permission to build houses on what had been empty pasture land.

Trailwinds could have been a regional attraction with proper planning and integration of businesses.

Some of the unique businesses from the current downtown could have been integrated into the planning using the downtown "revitalization" funds.

Instead we have Trailwinds with no apparent planning approving unconnected parcels with random, and several competing businesses within 100 yds of each other.

Instead a small fortune is invested planning for the "Downtown" boonoggle keeping 301 down the middle that echoed what the 1980's mindset local government who hired them wanted.

The development plan featuring a multistory parking garage is no more than rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Plenty of opportunity to be innovative and do better but some long term vision would be required. This is where the Developer excels.

[Bilyclub]

Originally Posted by pauld315

For historical purposes, the developer allowed Wildwood to annex the property in the southern area when they began building there in hopes that it would improve Wildwood by providing the town a lot of tax revenue. Wildwood, back then, was a lot worse than it is today in terms of poverty and crime. As The Villages expanded southward they wanted to rid the area of that reputation in order to calm nerves of potential buyers and visitors to Brownwood. If you are going to blame anyone, blame The Villages for encouraging it.

According to the developer the land was annexed before they owned it.

The Villages - Florida's Friendliest Active Adult 55+ Retirement Community

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by Villagesgal

You should have checked this before you bought. There are beautiful areas in the Villages that only pay county property taxes. You really get nothing additional for your city tax dollars. Look at the Wildwood City map on line, they were smart and annexed everything they could before major growth started in the area. They went from being cash short to having millions in surplus by doing that. Smart financial planning for them, not so good for you. Next time check taxes and tax rates prior to buying.

We knew about the Wildwood City tax before we bought a brand new home down south here last December. Our agent printed out a summary of our taxes, bond payment, etc, while we were still looking for a home. We are still way better off than we were in SoCal. No mortgage, similar property taxes, lower utilities bills, no state income tax, lower homeowners insurance, an active & fun retirement in a gorgeous setting. It’s all good for us here in paradise. 😍

[kansasr]

Originally Posted by Normal

The township line is quite crooked. I noticed how it goes around to engulf some spots like the Neighborhood Walmart. They wanted the steak and none of the salad.

The only parts of The Villages north of FL44 that are within the Wildwood City limits are Antrim Dells, Alden Bungalows and Atwood. The map you're looking at isn't very accurate.

[mtdjed]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

Can anyone explain what those of us living in Wildwood get for the $700 plus dollars we pay to Wildwood that those living outside of Wildwood don’t get??

It sounds like you live in Wildwood and as such you get the privilege of paying taxes to Wildwood. You should be asking them what you are getting. Police protection might be one.

Why would you expect that those of us that do not pay taxes to Wildwood would want to pay taxes to Wildwood, when we do not get any benefits from Wildwood?

Wildwood has done an extensive amount of annexing.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by kansasr

The only parts of The Villages north of FL44 that are within the Wildwood City limits are Antrim Dells, Alden Bungalows and Atwood. The map you're looking at isn't very accurate.

What map are you looking at that shows those three within Wildwood?

[RPDaly]

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[kansasr]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

What map are you looking at that shows those three within Wildwood?

The maps on the City of Wildwood web site

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by kansasr

The maps on the City of Wildwood web site

Thank you. Google maps fails on this one