[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by MartinSE

I was referring to the board that will run it. From what I understand if the district is approved the governor will appoint the board, instead of us.

My understanding could well be wrong.

But, if it is a power given to the governor, with all the "issues" around politics right now, and the potential every so often for the party of the governor to change. I just think I would prefer to avoid that changing the board every time a different party is in office.

Well, if you read the link in post #1, you will find everything you posted is wrong. Except appointments of the first board.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

Less than a Starbucks coffee a week for majority of villagers.
If the service is going to improve as much as claimed, an absolute bargain!

Like majority villagers go to Starbucks.

[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Like majority villagers go to Starbucks.

So, you failed comprehension at school?

[MartinSE]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Well, if you read the link in post #1, you will find everything you posted is wrong. Except appointments of the first board.

Thank you, I thought that was the same link that appeared in another post, and was just "promises". I agree there is a LOT more information in that link. So, thank you for correcting me.

I still don't understand WHY the governor has to appoint the initial board. I don't see anything explaining how or when those board members appointed by the governor are replaced. And how is the board held accountable for meeting the promised improvements in service.

Again, we are shown what it will cost. We are not told if we still have to pay Sumter County. And we are provided no metrics for measuring the success or failure, other than a nebulous "better" or "faster". I would like too know how we are to measure the success of the project and how we hold those running it accountable if they fail to succeed in keeping their promises.

If there is a link to documentation, that would be great.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by MartinSE

Thank you, I thought that was the same link that appeared in another post, and was just "promises". I agree there is a LOT more information in that link. So, thank you for correcting me.

I still don't understand WHY the governor has to appoint the initial board. I don't see anything explaining how or when those board members appointed by the governor are replaced. And how is the board held accountable for meeting the promised improvements in service.

Again, we are shown what it will cost. We are not told if we still have to pay Sumter County. And we are provided no metrics for measuring the success or failure, other than a nebulous "better" or "faster". I would like too know how we are to measure the success of the project and how we hold those running it accountable if they fail to succeed in keeping their promises.

If there is a link to documentation, that would be great.

Well, if you read the link gov. Names initial board members to staggering terms, as the terms end, new board member is elected to the board by the people.

As the man says on that tv commercial, “this is an ongoing full time job….keeping these people straight”

[44Apple]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Like majority villagers go to Starbucks.

Starbucks cheap shot.

[Goldwingnut]

What's not been pointed out, because it not under control of the district staff, is that as a part of this divestiture from the county, the county will have a decrease in property tax proportional to the amount of the fire department(s) budget and that they (the county) will have a similar separate tax levied on the county (non-villages) residents for fire service. The county fire service will have a similar funding process as The Villages. This should offset a significant portion of the increase that has been presented. The district staff can't speak to this because it is out of their control, it is in the hands of the county staff and the county commissioners.

The true test will be to see what the county plans to do with taxes, if they don't do a tax cut to compensate for the services they will no longer be providing/funding then we, the taxpayers, need to rise up and let our voices be heard. The time for this however is not at budget approval time in September (like what happened 3 years ago), the time is during the budget workshop process that is happening now. These workshops draw few to attend, mainly because they don't understand the process. These workshops are when the decisions are made, and the changes can happen. Don't let them slip by, they've already started. When September rolls around this is just a formality, the final approval, what is required by Florida law, the time for change will be long past.

Understanding how your government works is essential in making it work for you and the way you want it to.

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

What's not been pointed out, because it not under control of the district staff, is that as a part of this divestiture from the county, the county will have a decrease in property tax proportional to the amount of the fire department(s) budget and that they (the county) will have a similar separate tax levied on the county (non-villages) residents for fire service. The county fire service will have a similar funding process as The Villages. This should offset a significant portion of the increase that has been presented. The district staff can't speak to this because it is out of their control, it is in the hands of the county staff and the county commissioners.

The true test will be to see what the county plans to do with taxes, if they don't do a tax cut to compensate for the services they will no longer be providing/funding then we, the taxpayers, need to rise up and let our voices be heard. The time for this however is not at budget approval time in September (like what happened 3 years ago), the time is during the budget workshop process that is happening now. These workshops draw few to attend, mainly because they don't understand the process. These workshops are when the decisions are made, and the changes can happen. Don't let them slip by, they've already started. When September rolls around this is just a formality, the final approval, what is required by Florida law, the time for change will be long past.

Understanding how your government works is essential in making it work for you and the way you want it to.

///

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

You are happy with the 30 to 45 minute response time of the ambulances? I’ve been a bystander a few times and times the response, well in excess of 30 minutes.

Really? Seems it's MUCH shorter (by a power of 10...)

https://www.**************.com/2019/...-rapid-growth/

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

Really? Seems it's MUCH shorter (by a power of 10...)

https://www.**************.com/2019/...-rapid-growth/

I am talking the old ambulance (AMR).

I was at Sarasota driving range. TV fire department was there in 2 min (they are right across the street). They had the gentleman stabilized in 10 minutes, ambulance took another 35 to 40.
Another time at Piesanos AMR took about 50 minutes.

[Worldseries27]

Originally Posted by 44apple

starbucks cheap shot.

white chocolate mocha goes for 4.75.
Ihop 2 egg, 2 bacon, hash browns and toast 9.99
have to say when a coffee cost nearly 50% of a ihop breakfast
i think the shot might be applicable here

[crash]

Originally Posted by MartinSE

I agree completely, but it is the "claimed" part that bothers me, and the second part that bothers me is to give up local control. Politics is so volatile right now, that I think I prefer local control.

You are miss reading this, the special district gives more local control to the Villages instead of the county not less. It is the counties miss management of the AMR contract that has caused the poor ambulance problem. Their management is so poor that they are keeping AMR around for all the county not in the Villages.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

What's not been pointed out, because it not under control of the district staff, is that as a part of this divestiture from the county, the county will have a decrease in property tax proportional to the amount of the fire department(s) budget and that they (the county) will have a similar separate tax levied on the county (non-villages) residents for fire service. The county fire service will have a similar funding process as The Villages. This should offset a significant portion of the increase that has been presented. The district staff can't speak to this because it is out of their control, it is in the hands of the county staff and the county commissioners.

The true test will be to see what the county plans to do with taxes, if they don't do a tax cut to compensate for the services they will no longer be providing/funding then we, the taxpayers, need to rise up and let our voices be heard. The time for this however is not at budget approval time in September (like what happened 3 years ago), the time is during the budget workshop process that is happening now. These workshops draw few to attend, mainly because they don't understand the process. These workshops are when the decisions are made, and the changes can happen. Don't let them slip by, they've already started. When September rolls around this is just a formality, the final approval, what is required by Florida law, the time for change will be long past.

Understanding how your government works is essential in making it work for you and the way you want it to.

What leads you to say "will have" in the first highlight above? The county pays for its fire protection and ambulance service today partially through property taxes. Why is there any reason to believe that will change? If the county no longer pays for emergency service within the Villages then the county will have a budget surplus but what reason is there to believe they will cut taxes? They *could* leave the property tax rate as it is and use some portion of the surplus to enhance emergency services outside the Villages.

September is too late to make changes to the county budget for this coming year but the independent district would not begin to operate until the 2024 fiscal year. Would this September 2022 budget have changes for the new district or would those changes be part of the budget created a year from now?

September 2022 may be too late to change the budget but it isn't too late to make a decision on the independent district. If the budget that comes out this September doesn't appear favorable then it could affect the vote in November.

[MURALO]

Originally Posted by kkingston57

Agree service is important. Post was about cost. There is a helicopter parked all of the time at Villages Hospital and this time of the year it does fly out of the hospital approximately once a day. I wonder what their charge is.

About $20,000.00!

[retfc2@yahoo.com]

The governor will appoint the first board of 5 members. After that the board members will be elected by the Villagers for 2 and 4 year terms.