[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by riamd1954

Sounds like he’s a pretty dumb. The fire department will always put out fires that’s what they do !!

Which "he" are you referring to? There are so many.......

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by JWish

My original comment was to the person who said they should pay it or move out, only put more rudely.

Yes, it's amazing how many people are wiling to write a blank check for a service and criticize those who question how much the service is really worth.

[Spalumbos62]

Originally Posted by WesMan

You are incorrect!!!!!!! Open your eyes!!!

HEY.....we prefer you don't talk to others that way on this post....ty

[Scbang]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Yes, it's amazing how many people are wiling to write a blank check for a service and criticize those who question how much the service is really worth.

Totally agree. I am not questioning that I need to pay for fire protection. But my current assessment is $124 which is $1 less than maximum assessment limit. Am I wrong to assume that when they have $360 limit, I might be charged for $359?

BTW, am I the only one received this notice? Has everyone received similar notice? Were they all for 3X increase?

[Wendy Bradley]

Being a retired Firefighter, EMT, Public Safety Officer . I find this quite funny.... Everyone wants us (only) when they need us. Most of us do these jobs because we love it. Most of us hold down second jobs. Due to t hff at first job will not feed our families pay a mortgage. When I started 30 years ago I made $1.42 an hour ! Fire protection is NOT calculated by how many fires are in one area is by population. The national average for EMS truck roll at of their station is 5 minutes. The average for a Fire Apparatus 2 minutes . We not only handle Fires, entrapment, car accident, medical calls, kids needing help with projects, people falling. How dare you say it is a waste. The average fire engine Carries 750 maybe 1000 gallons of water. That is 5 to 7 1/2 minutes to fire a fire. Still want to cut the taxes... You put on that 50lbs of gear and step up to the plate and do our job.

[coconutmama]

You were not the only one to receive the notice. Yes, it was for the same amount

Considering that the starting pay is $13.04/hr with max of about $20/hr, the increase doesn’t appear to be going where it needs to.

The proposed increase is ridiculous. The addition of all those thousands of new houses should cover any needed fire stations. When was the last audit? And done by whom?

[petiteone]

They also come out and change the batteries in your fire/smoke detectors for free (you supply the batteries). 2X+ a year from current $150/year is a small amount compared to the amount of $$ spent on golf, drinks and dining in a year.

[john1006]

Please reread the proposal. From my understanding it is raising the "cap" on the public safety assessment. That allows the commissioners to increase the annual assessment up to $360. That is not likely to be done in one adjustment. I suspect that they will use the authority to increase the assessment from time to time to meet increased costs. Hopefully it will take several years to max out the increases. Many are viewing this as they did the "25%" property tax increase, it was really not 25% of your taxes but a much lesser amount based on just the local tax. Much ado about little. Compared to where most of us came from we are doing very well.

[Scbang]

Originally Posted by john1006

Please reread the proposal. From my understanding it is raising the "cap" on the public safety assessment. That allows the commissioners to increase the annual assessment up to $360. That is not likely to be done in one adjustment. I suspect that they will use the authority to increase the assessment from time to time to meet increased costs. Hopefully it will take several years to max out the increases. Many are viewing this as they did the "25%" property tax increase, it was really not 25% of your taxes but a much lesser amount based on just the local tax. Much ado about little. Compared to where most of us came from we are doing very well.

Let's not talk about what we can and can't afford. If SUBWAY increase sandwich price 3X, would you still go there? If Chevy increase the cheapest car price 3X, would you still buy it? I have not heard anything like 3X increase other than Shkreli increasing diabetes medicine for 1200% or 5500%. I am just asking TV's wise people whether this is acceptable to you or there is a reasonable explanation that I have not heard yet here.
As of yet, I have no reason to believe the next bill ( as soon as it passes ) will be less than $359.

[Dilligas]

Why do people visit TV, love what they see and experience, and check the cost and low taxes, then buy & move here, then complain and want to change things? TV has gained its growth and reputation over 40 years because of the way things are run here and the way the developers organized things. TV is like no other community in USA, for that reason. You found things here good enough for purchase & moving, so don’t try to change things, otherwise TV will become messed up like where you came from.

[jellybean428]

Originally Posted by Scbang

Hi, I just received a notification from Sumter County that my fire protection assessment will be increased from $125 to $360. Is this real? 3 times of the current assessment? They said I have to attend the meeting to appeal. Is this one of the scams that only attending people get to stay with the current rate and snowbirds will be assessed 3 times higher rate? Please advise.. SC

more homes require more coverage, yes, but more homes also represent increased revenues!! a 300% increase from everyone seems a bit over the top.
I think we are being taken advantage of, for certain.

[Advogado]

When the Developer pays a fire impact fee of zero, who do people think is going to pay for all the new fire stations and equipment necessitated by the massive expansion of The Villages?

[Pairadocs]

A serious incident agree, but how in the world does that tie to a 300% raise in fire taxes ?Wouldn't any fire fighter do the same in any city, it would have nothing to do with tax base. Isn't the villages growing and growing and bringing in MORE money to be spent on fire protection ? Again, the logic is not there: ANY city anywhere that is growing at a good pace does not need to triple the tax rate, don't "they" understand that the growth will support a new station and employees as needed ?

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Pairadocs

A serious incident agree, but how in the world does that tie to a 300% raise in fire taxes ?Wouldn't any fire fighter do the same in any city, it would have nothing to do with tax base. Isn't the villages growing and growing and bringing in MORE money to be spent on fire protection ? Again, the logic is not there: ANY city anywhere that is growing at a good pace does not need to triple the tax rate, don't "they" understand that the growth will support a new station and employees as needed ?

I continue winder if “they” understand anything.

[Vernon Hud]

You see those new apartment buildings in Brownwood, they need ladder trucks to cover these buildings. They are owned by the developer, but they do not want to pay for anything, so the homeowners have to divvy up. Just like the impact fees.