Sad
 

Once again public safety is the sacrificial lamb of local governments. I've seen it played out too many times.

So the County can approve the VSPD regardless of the resident's vote of no.

Except the county will appoint its own board where residents have no voting rights of the board.

Did TV residents know the county can just approve it anyway?

TV residents really screwed this up.

The VPSD exists today and has existed for some time now. It currently operates similar to a contracted service to Sumter County. The VCCDD/VPSD submits a funding request to the county and the county usually provides that funding. This action will not create the VPSD, it will create a new board to administer the VPSD.

I believe the point you are trying to make is the county can create a District even though the residents voted no. The residents voted no to an Independent Fire District that would operate independently of the county. What is being discussed now is a Dependent District that operates with the approval of the county.

While I am sure there are details that I don't understand, to me this appears to be a way of allowing a new tax that can't be directly blamed on the commissioners: the board will establish taxes, not the commissioners. The tax structure was described in detail in the proposal for the IFD but we'll have to see what it looks like for a dependent district. Ideally, a dependent district will also be created for the SCFEMS so that financing can be kept separated from each other and from the Sumter county budget.

Yep, but at least it won't be appointed by the Developer, right?. On the other hand, it won't elected by the residents either.

Not the same "it" being created. The information about creating districts is available in the Florida statutes but it is likely most TV residents had no idea what was possible.

Absolutely.

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Regarding last paragraph, both are evils. Inflation is high(no pay raise) and letting workers go(with an expanding populace) is not good. Workers will adapt and go to a place where they can get the most bang for their money. Need to have counties handle fire and EMS in each of the counties. We moved here to enjoy our retirement and not squabble over cost of an essential service.

Good thoughtful post!

Thanks for the high effort post.

After reading about yesterday's hearing it looks like the county commissioners are going to get their way.

As always, the devil will be in the details.

The new fee structure would not have been proposed if the IFD had passed but certain groups encouraged residents to vote against it.

The dependent district would not have been proposed if the fee structure had passed but certain groups encouraged the BoCC to go against their earlier decision and vote against it.

There will be an ordinance proposed that will contain the taxing structure for the dependent district but if certain groups encourage residents and/or businesses to protest then the BoCC might vote against it.

On the positive side:
- I heard that the board will eventually be elected by the residents. I had previously thought it would always be appointed.
- The BoCC did not just accept the five names put forward by the District, they intend to advertise the positions and interview candidates.
- Limits on the funding/taxing structure will be written into the ordinance. This is better than no limits at all though not quite as good as the IFD that required a referendum to increase the limits.

Concerns I still have:
- No one wants to pay more taxes but more funding is still required. Twice the vote has been to do nothing rather than accept new taxes. The dependent district could suffer the same fate
- Ideally, there will be a dependent district for the SCFEMS as well. If not then the SCFEMS would be funded out of the general fund which means we would pay for the VPSD directly AND pay for the SCFEMS through our property taxes. But while there was great concern for the timeline to establish a district for the VPSD, there was little or no discussion of the work required for a SCFEMS district.

We'll see what happens in the next couple of months.

The developer via their newspaper has now declared war on the county commissioners per editorial (not labeled as such) on the front page today.

I currently serve on the NSCUDD board which was created as a utility depended district board by the Sumter County Commissioners. I would hope that some of you might consider applying to run for a seat on a Sumter County Fire District board. I would be happy to discuss with you my thoughts about serving on a board.


PRESS RELEASE
Immediate Release:
September 21, 2023
Sumter County Seeks Applicants for
Potential Creation of The Villages Public
Safety Department District
Contact: Bradley Arnold
County Administrator
(352) 689-4400
bradley.arnold@sumtercountyfl.gov
Sumter County, FL – At the September 12, 2023 Tentative Budget Hearing, the Sumter County
Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted to proceed with the development of current
Village Center Community Development District service area to be governed by a dependent
fire district (Villages Public Safety Department District). The creation of this district will require
the initial appointment of individuals by name, with two serving an initial one-year term and three
serving three-year terms, so the positions will face the elections in November 2024 and
November 2026, respectively.
The BOCC will consider applicants that apply through the current boards and committees
application process. Residents that reside within the current Village Center Community
Development District fire service area, are Sumter County residents, and interested in serving
on The Villages Public Safety Department District can apply online at
Boards and Committee Vacancies | Sumter County, FL - Official Website. Applications will be accepted only through October 31, 2023.
Sumter County, FL - Official Website | Official Website