[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Happydaz

As far as “They won’t be pricing themselves out of tenants,” this may not always be true. The Lofts apartments at Brownwood are an example where they have not rented out even half of the units. Prices are steep for these apartments and garage space is extra. Just take a drive by these apartments and see how little activity is going on.

Doing a drive by is hardly the way to determine occupancy.

[ton80]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

If funds accumulate, that means they're no longer in debt. That's a good thing. Right now Sumter County is in the red. They have spent, and spent, whether wisely or not, doesn't even matter anymore. What matters is that they have debts. A city with debts is a city that has to make up the loss, and has to get the money from somewhere. Part of the cost of being a municipality needs to include a buffer - call it a roof fund, or a rainy day fund, or "reserves."

Reserves are used when expenses occur that weren't part of any other line-item on the budget. Such as hurricane damage repair expenses. Or sink-hole expenses. Or heck - if there's a fire at one of the municipal buildings. Or some emergency that requires the use of the county sheriff's department to spring into overtime pay.

That's what reserves are for. Many municipalities in the country don't put much emphasis on reserves, they'd rather keep taxes low and create the facade of being good to homeowners. But then when there's an emergency, they have to scramble to find the funds to pay to resolve it or risk their bond rating taking a dive.

I understand all of that. My point is that the Commissioners need to watch how the money is spent. If too much money is continually spent and spent perhaps unwisely as you mentioned, they will continue to add debt to satisfy their appetite. The debt will not be reduced despite the high tax rate increase.
Another point is should we have confidence in County management that did not realize that they had a problem? All of a sudden a large tax increase is necessary. Where is the emergency you allude to? I would like to see where the extra $33.3 M per year is going. Don't you?

[Happydaz]

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[Happydaz]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Doing a drive by is hardly the way to determine occupancy.

On April 29, 2015 I started a thread that stated that I had heard a report that The Villages was buying land south of SR 44 and that they were planning a major expansion. This was long before any announcement was made by The Villages executives. People made fun of that thread too. Go back and look. I think it was titled “South of 44.

Originally Posted by Happydaz

On April 29, 2015 I started a thread that stated that I had heard a report that The Villages was buying land south of SR 44 and that they planning a major expansion. This was long before any announcement was made by The Villages executives. People made fun of that thread too. Go back and look. I think it was titled “South of 44.

A drive by especially at night is a good way to determine occupancy but The Villages cheerleaders can not stand criticism of the developer. And I heard from another source the apartments are not renting well.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by ton80

I understand all of that. My point is that the Commissioners need to watch how the money is spent. If too much money is continually spent and spent perhaps unwisely as you mentioned, they will continue to add debt to satisfy their appetite. The debt will not be reduced despite the high tax rate increase.
Another point is should we have confidence in County management that did not realize that they had a problem? All of a sudden a large tax increase is necessary. Where is the emergency you allude to? I would like to see where the extra $33.3 M per year is going. Don't you?

It isn't "all of a sudden." It was reported about for the past couple of years - that this need has been accumulating steadily. They should have imposed small tax increases every couple of years, but chose not to increase them at all for 14 years. Inflation happens, new costs and needs happen, population (and therefore infrastructure needs) happen, more schools are needed to be built because of more people (remember the Villages aren't the only people who live in Sumter County and they DO hire people with kids, who come to the area for jobs.

So all these expenses have increased, but taxes remained the same for 14 years. Eventually, someone said "hey you know what? We really need to get this under control." And they all agreed, and boom. Tax increase. They had 14 years of inflation to make up for.

But they could have made the increase less, by increasing impact fees. A bigger impact fee, a smaller tax increase. Each contributing more than they did, but none of them bearing the entire burden of the need.

Also, the budget and expenses for the county is a matter of public record. You can see a line-item accounting of it if you want. And, as I mentioned, I live in Lake County. If I felt something in my county wasn't being done efficiently I would absolutely check with the county's public records to confirm/assuage my concerns.

[Advogado]

Originally Posted by jrandall

As a resident of Sumter County, I oppose the proposal by Oren Miller and Gary Search to raise road impact fees. Sumter County is a model for the State of Florida for Economic Growth and has been attracting business to it for the past several years. The proposed increase is outrageous! The increase will further decimate businesses impacted by the Pandemic and will make investing in Sumter County by potential incoming business less palatable and will likely steer many away. Also I am even more concerned that we may lose the potential for UF to build a hospital and medical facilities in the south which is definitely needed with our growth in population. The raising of the impact fees will damage our Community for years to come.

jrandall, do you work for the Developer or one of his suppliers?

Your post is a regurgitation of the BS being spewed by the Developer through his newspaper (and through his suppliers when he apparently had them pack the last County Commission meeting-- keeping out the public by filling up the parking lot with their heavy equipment). It is BS that was rejected by voters in the last election by a 2 to 1 margin when they elected the EMS Team (Estep, Miller, and Search)--tossing out three of the Developer's five puppet Commissioners in an effort to clean up the cesspool that was the County Commission.

Unfortunately, for reasons that are not clear, the E member of the EMS team is not fulfilling his campaign promise to roll back the 25% property tax increase and compensate for the lost revenue by requiring the Developer to pay for his own county infrastructure. He is handing the Developer millions of dollars, at taxpayer expense, just by delaying even consideration of reasonable impact fees. If reasonable impact fees are never implemented, Mr. Estep will be handing the Developer hundreds of millions of dollars at taxpayer expense.

Kudos to Commissioners Gary Search and Oren Miller for keeping their promise to the voters.

Commissioner Estep owes us an explanation and an apology. He needs to change his mind, fulfill his campaign promise, and vote to immediately proceed with our tax cut and implementation of reasonable impact fees to pay for the tax cut. To put impact fees in perspective, thanks to his Commission puppets, the Developer is only paying 5% of what he would pay in Collier County. We are making up the difference!

Originally Posted by Advogado

jrandall, do you work for the Developer or one of his suppliers?

Your post is a regurgitation of the BS being spewed by the Developer through his newspaper (and through his suppliers when he apparently had them pack the last County Commission meeting-- keeping out the public by filling up the parking lot with their heavy equipment). It is BS that was rejected by voters in the last election by a 2 to 1 margin when they elected the EMS Team (Estep, Miller, and Search)--tossing out three of the Developer's five puppet Commissioners in an effort to clean up the cesspool that was the County Commission.

Unfortunately, for reasons that are not clear, the E member of the EMS team is not fulfilling his campaign promise to roll back the 25% property tax increase and compensate for the lost revenue by requiring the Developer to pay for his own county infrastructure. He is handing the Developer millions of dollars, at taxpayer expense, just by delaying even consideration of reasonable impact fees. If reasonable impact fees are never implemented, Mr. Estep will be handing the Developer hundreds of millions of dollars at taxpayer expense.

Kudos to Commissioners Gary Search and Oren Miller for keeping their promise to the voters.

Commissioner Estep owes us an explanation and an apology. He needs to change his mind, fulfill his campaign promise, and vote to immediately proceed with our tax cut and implementation of reasonable impact fees to pay for the tax cut. To put impact fees in perspective, thanks to his Commission puppets, the Developer is only paying 5% of what he would pay in Collier County. We are making up the difference!

Here is a copy of the email I received from Mr. Estep when I emailed him regarding my support for repealing the 25% property tax increase. I will give him the benefit of the doubt for the time being as I believe more time is needed for fact finding. However by Summer a vote needs to be taken on the rollback.
-------------------

Mr. *********
Thank you for your email. As you may know we have tabled that issue because of the Covid-19 issue, and will revisit the issue in the future. In the meantime, it is my desire to gather as much information as possible to ensure when a decision is made in the future, that it is my best informed decision. Thank you again for your input, it is valued...and respected...Craig

[Advogado]

Originally Posted by John41

Here is a copy of the email I received from Mr. Estep when I emailed him regarding my support for repealing the 25% property tax increase.
-------------------

Mr. *********
Thank you for your email. As you may know we have tabled that issue because of the Covid-19 issue, and will revisit the issue in the future. In the meantime, it is my desire to gather as much information as possible to ensure when a decision is made in the future, that it is my best informed decision. Thank you again for your input, it is valued...and respected...Craig

John41, in your icon, you say, "Don't pee on my shoes and tell me it's raining." After that reply from Mr. Estep, check your shoes. Mr. Estep has had over a year to "gather as much information as possible". There is some other reason for his reneging on his campaign promise. I understand that he had a meeting with Developer "Community Relations Vice-President" Gary Lester, at Lester's office, but I would be shocked if that had anything to do with Mr. Estep's vote.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by John41

Avogado always backs up his opinions with facts. Your snarky remark is off topic and contributes nothing.

Twisting the truth to fit an agenda is not "facts".
He has an apples to oranges comparison with Collier.
Read & Learn.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by Advogado

There is something other reason for his reneging on his campaign promise.

Yes.............he just realized the County can not reverse the 25% increase without a plan. The light bulb has not come on for the other two newbie commish's.

Originally Posted by Advogado

John41, in your icon, you say, "Don't pee on my shoes and tell me it's raining." After that reply from Mr. Estep, check your shoes. Mr. Estep has had over a year to "gather as much information as possible". There is some other reason for his reneging on his campaign promise. I understand that he had a meeting with Developer "Community Relations Vice-President" Gary Lester, at Lester's office, but I would be shocked if that had anything to do with Mr. Estep's vote.

You are more informed than I am so you are probably correct. What about a recall?
-----------------
According to Fla. Stat. Annotated §100.36(1), "Any member of the governing body of a municipality or charter county, hereinafter referred to in this section as “municipality,” may be removed from office by the electors of the municipality."

Originally Posted by dewilson58

Twisting the truth to fit an agenda is not "facts".
He has an apples to oranges comparison with Collier.
Read & Learn.

Where are your facts that Avogado is twisting the truth? You make statements without supporting facts. "Read and learn" is not a supporting fact so you get a F in freshman logic
1. What is your version of the truth?
2. How is it being twisted in your opinion?
3. Why is it an apples and oranges comparison?
4. Were the voters in the last election misinformed?

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by John41

Where are your facts that Avogado is twisting the truth?
1. What is your version of the truth?
2. How is it being twisted in your opinion?
3. Why is it an apples and oranges comparison?
4. Were the voters in the last election misinformed?

If you read, you will learn.
Collier fee includes schools, parks, etc., which either does not apply to a +55 community or the developer pays for.
Check the facts, then you will know who states facts.

Originally Posted by dewilson58

If you read, you will learn.
Collier fee includes schools, parks, etc., which either does not apply to a +55 community or the developer pays for.
Check the facts, then you will know who states facts.

Obviously you have no supporting facts for your assertions and I am not going to do your research for you.