I don't know what the model is but we went into one in the Village of McClure a couple of years ago with our friends who were visiting. The master bedroom was upstairs.

Actually I found one
2 story home

Is that a real 2nd story or just for show, like the St. John's model? And if real, it may very well be an owner addition---just like the 2 homes that are behind #2 of Seminole at Belle Glade.

And an afterthought to incremental costs-----we all "know" it costs more to educate a student in our public schools if you live in a "2 story premier" than a courtyard villa, right?????

Since I am an aging senior and may be a bit slow at comprehending a lot of verbiage, can someone please answer what I consider a very simple question? It may have been addressed, but maybe someone can simplify it in plain English that I can understand.
Question:
If we vote yes, then TV (Sumter Co portion) has it's own Fire Dept and is responsible for the financing of it?
If we vote NO, then the whole county (Sumter) continues to pay for the Fire Dept? Since it would be a WHOLE county tax payers financed service then we would share the cost? If we segregate to a private Fire Dept. then TV portion of Sumter Co. would be responsible for the WHOLE cost?
Sorry, more than one question.
Just a thought: Seems like if we take on the added responsibility of financing our own FD, then this would be similar to paying our bonds that supposedly pays for Infrastructure in TV. I've paid my bond off, but adding the TVFD financing to my taxes seems like it would be like tacking another uncapped bond to my yearly tax. Right now, we pay for the FD but the whole county shares the cost, not just TV. Or am I mistaken?
If I am right, I can see NO justification for voting "YES"

Don Wiley is in a better position to clarify those statements.
I would also like to pose another simple question:

We know the financing may have unexpected costs, but outside of more local control I'll ask this:

What are the advantages of financing the VSPD separately?????

There are two fire companies that service the county today: VPSD inside the Villages and SCFD outside.

The county could, at any time, choose to merge the VPSD and the SCFD. At that point we would all share in the cost of the combined service. At that point we would all share in the benefits and the problems of the combined service.

Yes, the costs for the VPSD are shared with the entire county. HOWEVER, so are the costs for the SCFD. You and I pay for both. The guy down in Webster pays for both.

Under the IFD, only the Villagers (and those non-Villagers inside the IFD boundaries) would pay for the VPSD.

If the county moves forward with what they have projected then only those county residents outside the IFD boundaries would pay for the SCFD (you and I would not)

You currently pay something like 1.65mils towards the combined VPSD and SCFD. If the IFD passes and the 0.1mil estimate is correct then you will pay approximately 1.1mils towards the VPSD and nothing towards the SCFD. You will still pay for fire protection, it will just be on a separate line and it will likely be less than today.

(IMPORTANT: We don't yet know how the county will fund the SCFD so it is only an assumption that we will not continue to pay for the SCFD through our property taxes)

A Sumter County Commissioner has stated we will not be paying for SCFD if the IFD passes.

There are probably no advantage to just the separate financing of the VPSD. In fact, there could be disadvantages. However, the IFD is not just about separate financing.

The separate financing comes about when the IFD is created to separate the IFD from county funding.

What you also get is:
- You *only* finance the VPSD (today you also finance the SCFD)
- The VPSD is protected from being merged with the SCFD (this idea has been raised)

I like the idea that my fire protection costs will go down but what is more important to me is protecting the VPSD against being merged to form one, county-wide service.

And I believe what was stated and truly hope it turns out to be the case. Additionally, the projected 2024 projected budget is consistent with separate funding for the SCFD. I am just being careful with my words until all the dust has settled.

Thank you, and I agree----I doubt services in The Villages would be enhanced if the two departments are merged into one, much less the budget games that would likely result. The only financial concern is the concept that Don stated in his OP that the MTSU could be as high as 2 mil---that can add up quickly---I like the 0.1 mil number better.:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

In my calculations, the 0.1mil will result in close to the $18M that the VPSD is receiving from the county this year. If the expenses increase next year the 0.1mil may not be sufficient.

One of the risks of the IFD is there is little that can be done to control budget increases other than the 1mil cap. I will not be happy if my fire protection costs increase that much.

Taxpayer funds being used to promote the proposed fire district
 

Whether one intends to vote yes or no, residents should be outraged that the proponents of the new fire district are spending our tax dollars on color brochures and what appears to be a professionally made video that are nothing more than propaganda promoting the fire district. The brochures and video are just decoration on the poke in which the pig of the fire district is being hidden.

:loco::loco:
The cost of education.

Welcome back.
I've missed you.

:jester:

Where can I get one!

No idea.
No idea if they are real.
The poster who mentioned them, makes stuff up all the time.
:posting:

Says the lobbyist for the POA. lol