copied from the District website

"Each parcel will be charged $124. The additional needed funding will be generated with $0.75 per $1000 of relative improvement value in (market or ‘just’ value minus land value) in a second tier. In addition to the ‘Simplified Funding’, The Villages Independent Fire Control and Rescue District will have the legal ability to generate funding via millage which is an ad-valorem assessment, meaning that it is based on the taxable value of your home. This is capped at one (1) mill which is equivalent to $1 for every $1,000 of the assessable value of residential and commercial properties. This would mean the Board could levy 0 mills or any millage in between to a maximum of 1 mill. Under the purview of the District, these revenue methods will provide enhanced transparency in identifying exactly how much you are paying to fund the services received.

So, will I be paying more?

The following chart provides sample comparisons of the potential maximum levy for fire and EMS services that would be provided by the District of actual properties within the proposed District boundaries (does not include amenity fee). As you can see, the annual increase varies based on the relative improvement value.


Current Process Proposed Process Annual Difference
Patio Villa $171.70 $299.50 $127.80
Patio Villa $196.52 $329.50 $132.98
Courtyard Villa $261.56 $450.45 $188.89
Courtyard Villa $156.58 $313.11 $156.53
Designer $244.16 $432.99 $188.83
Designer $338.19 $628.39 $290.20
Premier $640.16 $1,183.44 $543.28
Premier $721.42 $1,437.29 $715.87
Ranch $240.85 $404.86 $164.01
Ranch $257.61 $432.62 $175.01

Publix Plaza – Colony Blvd $11,664.35 $23,878.01 $12,213.66
Freedom Pointe $16,844.26 $31,173.67 $14,329.41
Brownwood Lofts $19,404.87 $34,780.16 $15,375.29
What will I be getting with the annual increase?

The Villages Public Safety Department heard from the thousands of residents that they wanted better services and response times than they were receiving from the current transport and service provider. This budget was created to include the revenues and expenditures to provide those comprehensive services, consistent to the higher level of services that residents of The Villages expect in all areas of their lifestyle. Most notably, the increased expenses account for the assumption of ambulance and transport services, as well as funding to support future fire stations, apparatus and personnel to maintain a constant state of readiness in this ever-growing community.

If I am no longer paying taxes to Sumter County for fire service, will my Sumter County taxes be reduced?

Only the Sumter County Board of County Commissioners can respond as to their plan for taxing in Sumter County. We urge you to contact them with your questions or concerns by attending a meeting or visiting their website at Sumter County, FL - Official Website | Official Website. "

Again, this information is currently on the Village Community Development Districts

1. The costs are determined by the accounting and budget departments of Sumter County and the district office. These are not elected individuals but paid professionals on the staff of both, who have been doing this for years for every budget. IF your comment about "not necessarily from TV" is referring to the elected officials that will make up the IFD board, you are mistaken, the governor will appoint the initial board (through the appointment process in place by the state), these board members will have to meet all the eligibility requirements as they would to run for the office including where they live, just as I had to to be considered for appointment as County Commissioner in District 5.

2. Correct, those numbers will take some time to determine, district staff is working on the VPSD IFD costs but can't determine the final millage rate until June 30, 2023 when property value determinations are completed and certified by the County Property Appraiser. The reduction in the ad valorum millage rate on your tax bill will not be determined until then for the same reason and because the SCFD operating costs have to be determined. A lot of the SCFD costs have to be calculated because many costs are not necessarily determined by department but as a part of the overall county budget, things like vehicle servicing, IT support, and staff support costs. Also not known is the actual number of homes that will be taxed next year, more are added every day.

3. The values are determined by the Sumter County Property Appraiser, Mr. Joey Hooten (and staff), who is an elected official of Sumter County.

The cost of combining both fire departments into one would be significant, but not so much in dollars but in service. All residents would receive the same services and as such many of the additional services provided by VPSD would have to be eliminated, or if added to SCFD services all residents of Sumter County would feel the increased cost. Also, these two fire departments have significantly different operating models VPSD is geared for an older urban community and SCFD is more responsive to a younger more rural population.

Yes, I was there, I was in the audience the same as all the rest. That was the time for the District 2 and 4 candidates to speak, it was not an open forum.

The table is based on 0.71 mils of current property tax allocated to fire and EMS service. Commissioner Wiley sets this number closer to 1.66 mils. If Commissioner Wiley's numbers come to pass then the increase under the independent district will be much less than shown in the table.

I’m glad that our 2 fire departments will also provide timely transport service vs the previous 3rd party company. This should prove to save lives❤️

The Villages would pay $124 plus $.75 per thousand. This is where the proposed 9.1% county tax cut comes from because they won’t have to pay it.

This thread makes for fascinating, and very complicated reading: of explanations, estimated and ‘in a perfect world’ cost / tax variables that blur the actual outcome.
As a home owner it is the reality of the bottom line dollar amount on the tax bill due that is simple, real, and one I can understand:
And It is going to be higher.

Thank you for a concise and easily understandable review of the impacts and path forward!

Goldwingnut
“The cost of combining both fire departments into one would be significant, but not so much in dollars but in service”
Generally, when two departments are combined there are cost savings that result from duplication of positions in an organization chart as well as other overlaps. Has this been taken into account in your analysis?

Would it be possible to take a previous budget year, say 2021-22, and simulate what the taxes would be under the proposed IFD structure? This way there are no unknowns, since everything is documented from the past (# of homes, assessments, fire & transport costs, etc). This would present an apples to apples comparison of the two methods to organize the fire & ambulance services.

That seems like a very confident assertion after you seemingly discount an analysis based on the best estimates available. How can you be so confident that taxes will go up?

Then there is the question of how much they will go up.
- If the IFD is not created then the Sumter County Fire-EMS is not separated from the County budget either and we will end up paying for any plus-up in equipment or staff needed to improve that service.

- If the IFD is created but the County Commissioners do not adjust the budget then I may pay an unacceptable additional $600 in taxes.

- If the IFD is created and the County Commissioners offset about 0.71 mils as estimated in the table on the VPSD page then I pay an undesirable additional $300 in taxes.

- If the IFD is created and Commissioner Wiley's calculated offset of 1.66 mils stands then I will see a slight decrease in taxes.

We can't know the numbers until next July; there is no way to determine the numbers until next July. Those numbers will be affected by the new study on how to fund the Sumter County Fire-EMS if the IFD is approved, the economy, the increase in the tax base (number of homes), and the priorities of the commissioners we elect next month (August).

Why would the board be chosen by the governor? Isn't that cronyism instead of a board that has everyone's best interest?

How else would you choose the initial members of a board? The residents don't know what the board does yet or what the minimum qualifications would be so allowing the voters to choose would be like the blind leading the blind.

The Governor chooses experienced, qualified individuals for the initial board to get the district up and running and then the residents choose the new members as the terms of the initial board come to an end. As I understand it, that is Florida law.

Thank you Don for taking the time to explain this to us, can you tell me if the IFD will include us that live in Marion County?

Thank you Don. I always appreciate and trust your insights.

Bottom line is if you want quicker response time there are costs involved. Waiting for an ambulance 10 minutes or perhaps more is unacceptable in my community IMHO. I will be voting to improve this service. We can do better.

What are the pros and cons of an IFD?
 

Don, I’m very confused. Before digging into the financials, I need to understand the overarching issues.

Background:
o Don Wiley states “The vote on the general election ballot on November 8th is only about establishing the IFD and not about the ambulance services. The ambulance service issue was resolved last year and is moving forward in both fire districts. This is the result of residents of The Villages and County Residents requirements for better, more effective, and more responsive emergency transport services. The BOCC listened and reacted accordingly. This higher level of service will come with a price that reflects additional staffing and equipment costs. In the ideal world, these will be cost neutral and self-funding from the transport fees collected.”

o Districtgov.org states “What will I be getting with the annual increase? The Villages Public Safety Department heard from the thousands of residents that they wanted better services and response times than they were receiving from the current transport and service provider. This budget was created to include the revenues and expenditures to provide those comprehensive services, consistent to the higher level of services that residents of The Villages expect in all areas of their lifestyle.


Comments & Questions:
1. Although this emphasizes that the ambulance service issue and the IFD vote this November are separate issues, the messaging seems to treat them as one. For example, “one last thought” on the decision voters must make re: IFD refers to “let the hand of your most cherished one go as they are loaded into the ambulance”
2. It appears the October 2022 change from contracted ambulance service to in-house ambulance and transport should result in better and “more responsive emergency rescue, medical, and transport services”. Given that, why are we considering a separate major change to create two independent Fire Control and Rescue entities?
3. The Districtgov.org site refers to self-governance and autonomy and independent financial sustainability as reasons for forming an IFD. Have Sumter-county residents outside The Villages indicated that they do not also want better and “more responsive emergency rescue, medical, and transport services”?
4. Since the Sumter County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) previously approved to maintain two distinct Fire & rescue operations I assume they discussed a comprehensive set of pros and cons for establishing the IFD. Could you please share that list (or something similar)?
5. You state that "We will have an independent company review and analyze the costs associated with the county fire department and transport services (ambulance) in the current budget and projected for the upcoming year." Wouldn't it be wise (and perhaps more cost efficient) to have the same independent review and analysis for the VPSD & IFD? Is that planned?
6. To prevent residents from being hit with huge ambulance transport bills, will the new ambulance service be contracted as in-network with major health insurance companies?

Thanks

You seem to have missed a lot of meetings……………
Maybe this will help.
The Villages Independent Fire Control and Rescue District
Sumter View Page

If they can’t figure out the cost now prepare for a shock. How can you trust an entity that can’t do basic accounting? In the business world this would never happen. Easy to spend other peoples money

You can buy a bigger truck for better safety. You can buy more life insurance. Any benefits are speculative

Yes, I missed all the meetings. Most people who will vote on this issue probably missed the meetings. My mind is open, but so far I have not seen information in the local paper or website to justify the proposed change.

"What will I be getting with the annual increase?

The Villages Public Safety Department heard from the thousands of residents that they wanted better services and response times than they were receiving from the current transport and service provider. This budget was created to include the revenues and expenditures to provide those comprehensive services, consistent to the higher level of services that residents of The Villages expect in all areas of their lifestyle. Most notably, the increased expenses account for the assumption of ambulance and transport services, as well as funding to support future fire stations, apparatus and personnel to maintain a constant state of readiness in this ever-growing community."

At the moment, this is the position of District staff as presented on the districtgov.org website.

Taxes are probably going to increase. We wanted better response time from the ambulance - better service is more expensive.

If the improved response time saves your life, your spouse’s life or your best friend’s life, is it worth a few hundred dollars?

It’s like the people who complain about course conditions, and the high greens fees, you can’t have it both ways.

Heart attacks are not the only medical emergencies they respond to.

So why not address MUTUAL AID and emergency responses outside of The Villages? Looks like a pretty lopsided delivery of services. I suspect our neighboring emergency services departments are salivating over what they will get on the backs of Villages tax revenues. That alone will represent a huge service delivery cost obfuscated by the smoke and mirrors of local government budget and tax administrators. The explanations you offer are beautifully written. I wonder if the costs of supporting neighboring
tax districts through UN-MUTUAL aid
was intentionally left out.

From post #13.
Correct, crossing county lines to create an IFD would be incredibly complex, there will be agreements in place between the IFD, Lake County, and Marion County for mutual service. From the public's stand point, there should be little change from what we have now.

If there is little chance from what we have now then why change? Hopefully change will be either quicker response time or lower cost. In the end the change will more likely be quicker response time and TBD increased cost?

:shrug:

From now until Oct 2023:
- The VPSD exists today.
- The VPSD will provide ambulance service starting in October.
- The funding for the VPSD comes from the County budget - the Commissioners set the funding level.

If the IFD does not pass, that is what we will have in Oct 2023 as well.

If the IFD *does* pass then beginning in Oct 2023 the funding for the VPSD will be controlled by the IFD and not by the County Commissioners.
- Property taxes in September 2023 will show the two new funding lines for the IFD (a non-ad-velorem line of 0.75 mils and an ad-velorem line of up to 1 mil)
- *Ideally* the Sumter County property tax line will be reduced by about 1.65mils

The IFD is all about securing a funding source and organizational structure independent of Sumter County. No possibility of Sumter County underfunding the VPSD and no possibility of the VPSD being rolled into (or brought under control of) the SCFD.

Nice of them to include Lakeside Landings in the fire district.

Everything is speculative. No guarantees things get better. And no one will tell you the cost

Operationally, it is my understanding that new ambulances will replace the fire service trucks that the Villages Fire Dept. would send out on 911 calls to then wait for the old ambulance company to arrive. The new ambulances will be stored in the same bay as these old fire truck vehicles that are no longer needed. In the past, the Villages Fire Dept. vehicle would usually arrive before the ambulance. I would believe that the new Fire Dept. ambulance would now arrive at the same time it took the old Village Fire Dept. truck vehicles to arrive. I asked a fire dept. official if there would be some cost saving as the Fire Dept. is now the ambulance service provider. I didn’t get the jest of his response. At a few stations, there may be two ambulances available?

Am I to assume that this is for Sumter County residents only?
And how will this effect Villages Residents from Marion and Lake counties? Pretty important point I believe, seeing as some our the amenities fees that should be used for ALL of us seem to be going to Sumter residents only.
Please reply

The new fire district is for the Villages in Sumter County and will be paid for by residents located in this fire district.

Amenities fees collected are administered by AAC in the older sections of the Villages
VCDD Amenity Authority Committee - AAC

and PWAC in districts 5-11 with no transfer of funds between these two independent public entities.

Village Community Development Districts

Good question!

Yes, $4.08 of each month's amenity fee is applied to the Villages Public Safety budget so there should be some accounting for the residents that live in Lake and Marion counties for these funds.

One might assume that these funds would be used to offset some of the mutual aid costs incurred by the VPSD when/if the IFD is approved, but I don't know the full answer to this question. You need to ask this question to the District Manager, Kenney Blocker, as he and the district staff are dealing with the funding side of the VPSD/ISD issue.

It has been stated this is ONLY a change to how things are funded. Not how services are provided. And it's been said there will be little to near zero change to the homeowner tax costs, but that appears to be up for debate.
If this is all true, then how will any EMS services change between keeping as-is and making the change? If the new district has nothing to do with service delivery, then why are they promoting better service as a need for the district? Just do it now.
Things don't add up. What is the real truth and why are some officials saying contradicting things?

Maybe ask these officials?

Posts #1 and #67 should help.

The structures of the VPSD and SCFD, both of which will include ambulance service, will not change whether the IFD is approved or not. Delivery of fire, EMS, and transport services will not change immediately whether the IFD is approved or not, the IFD affects what happens after 2023.

I received an email from Kenney Blocker this afternoon that included a forwarded email about this posting. The email concluded that I was encouraging people to vote no on the referendum in November, this in not and was never the intent of this post. The post simply (OK, maybe not so simply) explains the processes that are going on now to determine the cost impact of the IFD and why it is not possible to give an exact number until the property values area certified by the Property Appraiser in June of 2023. If anything, I believe that I have actually painted positive picture of what is to come for Villages residents if the IFD is approved. I'll try a brief recap.

1. For those serviced by VPSD there should be no noticeable difference in service if the IFD is approved or not. The Difference will be in the level of control of the funding by the county, will it stay the same or will it be completely independent of the county.
2. The county must identify the cost of all fire services, SCFD and VPSD, and remove it from the general fund budget. This will result in a decrease in the ad valorum tax for everyone in the county. This ensures you are only paying for one fire service, no matter where you live.
3. If approved there will be 2 fire districts in Sumter County next year. Each with its own funding sources - separate MSBU and MSTU for each. VPSD will also receive $4.08/month/property from the amenity fee we all pay. There are also other funding sources that may go into determining the MSBU/MSTU for each fire department. These new fees will replace the ad valorum tax decrease.

Now for my opinion on the topic. As a resident, I believe that this is the best thing for the residents of The Villages as our needs are very different and it is better that we have control over the funding mechanism. The residents of the proposed IFD are the only ones who have a vote in this issue, those serviced by the SCFD have no say.

What I haven't previously discussed is one portion of the math involved, the number and value of the properties involved. The Villages represents about 75-80% of the properties in Sumter County with a higher average property value. Both fire departments have operating budgets in a similar range, which means that 75-80% of the properties will have to cover an operating budget similar to the budget that 20-25% will have to cover. As it stands right now, VPSD residents may pay considerably less for annual fire service than SCFD residents may have to pay. The naysayers and ill-informed neglect to point this out as well as the requirements of the adjustments to the ad valorum property tax to prevent double taxing. Good news doesn't sell newspapers, fear does.

For every decision there are always unintended consequences.

The improved service delivery is really focused around the transport services (ambulance) that has already been decided, however some internal structural changes will result in a higher level of cross-skills qualifications (all fire fighters being EMT/paramedics) giving greater flexibility and skill to the responding unit. This does come at a cost.

Costs, or paying for these costs, is one of the big issues with the IFD. Currently the county holds the wallet for both fire departments, this has given rise to differences of opinion on what the funding should be for the VPSD and how the additional revenue sources should impact VPSD funding from the county. Letting the VPSD be funded from an IFD will allow the tailoring of services to better fit the needs of the residents and then only the benefiting fire district fund them.

I've not seen any "official" involved in the process have conflicting information or responses, all have been delivering the same message, that the final cost is still being developed because there still a lot of moving parts that must be determined. The easiest of these is perhaps the VPSD costing because it has operated nearly independently for many years now. The hard part is determining the number of homes and the property values that will be ultimately included in the IFD, until that is known the (in June of 2023) the exact millage rate to cover the IFD cost can't be determined. The District (Villages) can't say what the county will do with the tax rates because they are not involved in the county budget. The county can't say what the exact change will be yet because they are still working to identify and isolate the SCFD costs in the county budget and waiting for the Property Appraiser's final determinations.

Where I have seen conflicting opinions is in some candidate's (not officials) opinions on the process. Having listened to many, some are ill- or under-informed on the entire process and subject and are casting dispersions on the process because of their lack of understanding. Many are, in my opinion, trying to make noise to get recognition on the campaign trail, the realities of this issue seem to have no bearing on their "opinions".

My original post here was an attempt to bring to light some of the internal processes that are happening to form the IFD and determine its cost to the homeowners and county residents alike. My previous post here is the first that I know of that anyone has spoken to the math of the 80/20 population split in the county/fire districts and the impact that that will have on the individual residents here in the county.

Perhaps the worst part of all of this is that the people with absolutely no say in the matter, the residents that will not be part of the VPSD IFD in Sumter County, will be the most negatively impacted by this process.

Please be aware: Defibrillators are good for only ONE condition, when a patient is not responding and not breathing, and has no apparent heartbeat. They are NOT useful for the far more frequent and more common heart attack. While the people who respond to defibrillator calls are great at CPR, we STILL NEED the fire department first responders for heart attacks, as well as other medical emergencies. Don't believe that your local AED program negates the need for Fire department first responders.

Don't get me wrong. I strongly support the defibrillator programs and am active in helping get one started in my village, but I'm also grateful for that Fire Department only a couple of minutes away. We need both!

So true, there are always "Unk Unk's" ( unknowen unknowns).

We can't let those stand in the way of the greater good.

Thanks for providing synthisis of the information currently available.