Originally Posted by Byte1 (Post 2149998)

I don't know about others on here, but I am not convinced and therefore plan to vote to remain "status quo" because right now we kind of know what to expect. No one can give us definitive answers (and I understand their inability) to the cost to us if we change. Until such a time as we get a better understanding, I will have to vote "NO"

Originally Posted by oldtimes (Post 2150009)

There is no "status quo" even if it gets defeated there is no guarantee the County won't raise the taxes. Where taxes are concerned there is no such thing as concrete numbers, they are always made out of sand.

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2149919)

What do we know & what don't we know:

Assessments:
- Change every year
- Went up significantly this year
- Don't know what will happen next year
- With the IFD: Don't know
- Without the IFD: Don't know

Property tax rate:
- 6.15mils last year
- 5.59 mils this year
- ??? next year
- With the IFD: Will be decreased some amount due to VPSD being removed from budget
- Without the IFD: Don't know

VPSD budget request:
- $16M last year
- $17.6M this year
- ??? next year
- With the IFD: Don't know but will likely be approved
- Without the IFD: Don't know but will likely be approved

Fire protection cost per Village home:
- $124 + 1.33 mil last year
- $124 + 1.65 mil this year
- ??? next year
- With the IFD: $124 + 0.75*Improved value + 0.1mil (estimated)
--- Works out to be about $124 + 1.1 mil or about 0.5mil LESS than this year
--- For an exact dollar amount use the VPSD tax estimator
- Without the IFD: $124 + xxx mil
--- where xxx was 1.33 last year, 1.65 this year, and likely to be more next year

So what concrete information do you have about next year if the IFD does not pass? What will my assessment be? What will the VPSD budget be? What will my fire protection cost be? What precise numbers can you provide for next year if the IFD fails? If concrete numbers aren't available for the case where the IFD fails then by your logic it is time to pass the IFD.

Originally Posted by Byte1 (Post 2150028)

So, we are supposed to take someone else's assurance that having an independent FD will be better, based on faith? Maybe it will be better, and I am not suggesting otherwise. The point most folks are concerned about is the possibility of an unneeded additional cost. For some on here, money is not a concern but some of us are on a fixed income and have a tendency to examine things thoroughly. Interesting that this issue is being discussed this close to the election. I'll be pulling the proverbial "lever" next week for early voting and I am not going to make the choice to change with my lack of understanding of what the results might be. You can say, that's on me.

Originally Posted by Kenswing (Post 2150036)

Most fire departments throughout the state use independent fire districts. We’re actually an outlier still being under the county. I figure if it works for the other 53 ifd’s it’ll work just fine for us too.

Originally Posted by twoplanekid (Post 2150079)

I can't locate any data to backup this claim. Do you have a source for this data?

Originally Posted by twoplanekid (Post 2150079)

I can't locate any data to backup this claim. Do you have a source for this data?

Originally Posted by golfing eagles (Post 2150083)

I also have a problem believing there are only 53 fire departments in the state of Florida. I believe there are 67 counties

Actually, 5 seconds on google shows there are 1,956 fire depts in Florida

Fire Departments - Florida (Fire Stations & Marshals)

Originally Posted by Kenswing (Post 2150036)

Most fire departments throughout the state use independent fire districts. We’re actually an outlier still being under the county. I figure if it works for the other 53 ifd’s it’ll work just fine for us too.

Originally Posted by dewilson58 (Post 2150061)

Saw a road sign: Vote No. No new fire district. No new taxes.

:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:


and think, some people believe the message.

Originally Posted by Altavia (Post 2150027)

For me as Bill14564 noted, the financial unknowns are no different from either side.

I have more confidence in The Villages establishing a quality, cost effective fire service for The Villages than Sumter County.

Originally Posted by Plinker (Post 2150055)

The variable of concern to me in your estimate is the 0.1 mil rate. Could this not also be increased to a 1.0 mil rate? That could represent a very substantial amount of money to many Villagers. Did I read the legislation incorrectly? Can
the rate be from 0.1 to 1.0? Potentially a big difference.

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2150103)

So, take your chances on the possibility that 1mil cap could be reached or take your chances with the BoCC and a history of raising taxes by 1.7 mils.

Originally Posted by Babubhat (Post 2150148)

Nothing in this thread will change anyones mind

Originally Posted by golfing eagles (Post 2150065)

Like you, I was initially against this proposal. My concerns were that it could be used as an excuse for the county raise taxes through a backdoor method, and that I might very well end up paying substantially more than a person on the next block for the same service because of the milage rate tied to a home's assessment.

However, looking deeper and thinking about it, the services cost what they cost, and therefore the proposal should be cost neutral. Likewise, unless the county plays games, it should be revenue neutral as well. And the county can play games with the tax rate whenever they want anyway. As far as paying more than a neighbor for the same service, we already are---3/4 of the fire services cost comes out of the general revenue which is of course based on home assessment.

Given all that, I've reconsidered and will support the new IFD---since I'm pretty sure that a merger of the two fire depts would result in a decrease in service to TV, something worth avoiding.

Originally Posted by Bilyclub (Post 2150573)

After much reading I can safely say the following:

The Sumter Co FD and The Villages FD have similar, total budgets.
The Independent Villages Fire District would include 80% of the population and property values of Sumter Co.
The Sumter Co FD would serve 20% of the population and property values in Sumter Co.
Each FD will get their funding from their service area.
All the above statements were from Don Wiley.


With similar budgets and the the passing of the TVIFD, will those 20 % in Sumter Co be in for some sticker shock when they get the bill for their FD? Why is the SCFD budget so big with less properties to serve?
Have TV properties been subsidizing the SCFD?

I think whichever way the IFD vote goes, the residents of TV will be paying something for the SCFD.

Originally Posted by Mrs.Guy (Post 2150602)

:confused: Would it be safe to say that you will be going to the VHA informational meeting tonight to get the answers to your questions? The people that run YOUR government and YOUR fire dept. will be there to answer any questions. On the front page of todays paper. :read:

Originally Posted by oldtimes (Post 2150155)

Some will understand better than others. I know at least one who has seen the light.

Originally Posted by kingofbeer (Post 2150604)

Status quo sounds good to me. I don't want my property taxes to go up.

Originally Posted by kingofbeer (Post 2150604)

Status quo sounds good to me. I don't want my property taxes to go up.

Originally Posted by golfing eagles (Post 2150617)

If you vote yes, your property taxes may go up
If you vote no, your property taxes may go up

They shouldn't, but that will essentially be up to Sumter County, not The Villages

But if you vote no, you may have your emergency services merged with Sumter County, which would probably diminish service, AND your property taxes may go up

Originally Posted by golfing eagles (Post 2150617)

If you vote yes, your property taxes may go up
If you vote no, your property taxes may go up

They shouldn't, but that will essentially be up to Sumter County, not The Villages

But if you vote no, you may have your emergency services merged with Sumter County, which would probably diminish service, AND your property taxes may go up

Originally Posted by Mrs.Guy (Post 2150615)

If the Sumter Co Board had their way and combined both dept. into one and you were laying on the ground holding your chest waiting for AMR..... well you might think just a little differently. With your last breath you might be asking where do I send the money? :undecided: And you do know the two dept. have different ISO ratings..... Take a wild guess who has the better one and pays less in insurance. Last I looked the VPSD had an ISO rating of 2 and only 2% of all Fire Dept. in the U.S. can say that. They are professionals at their job and they would like our support.....that's all I needed to know to VOTE YES. We want them there when we need them and should be there for them also. :ho:

Originally Posted by Mrs.Guy (Post 2150619)

:) You can explain it to people..... you can't understand it for them.

Originally Posted by Babubhat (Post 2150627)

If. If . If. Nothing concrete. That says it all. Not sufficiently well thought out.

I don’t believe in if.

Originally Posted by Mrs.Guy (Post 2150619)

:) You can explain it to people..... you can't understand it for them.

Originally Posted by golfing eagles (Post 2150635)

The sad part is that it’s not quantum physics

Originally Posted by Dotneko (Post 2150674)

So, a Yes vote increases my taxes by a few hundred dollars with no appreciable change in services.
What is the Villages rec centers and other various buildings stake in this? Are their taxes going down?
Whats in it for them?

Originally Posted by Babubhat (Post 2150627)

If. If . If. Nothing concrete. That says it all. Not sufficiently well thought out. People need to stop obsessing over a potential minute. Emotional arguments are speculative

I don’t believe in if.

Originally Posted by Byte1 (Post 2150871)

A couple of thoughts:
Are the present firefighters paid by the county? If so, then what happens to their retirement funding, if any? Do they still get county benefits if they are "Independent?"
Not to get political and trying to merely make a point, I received an email from a "D" organization telling me to vote "NO." That tends to make it easier for some to vote "YES." I really wish they would not make it a politically partisan issue.
I have read some very good answers on here, both "yay" and "nay." I am going to leave myself open to plausible views before I vote this week or next. So far, both views seem to make sense.
I will continue to look forward to sensible suggestions, or I will just leave it blank. I prefer not to leave it blank but rather than make the wrong decision and regret it, I figure I might end up letting others regret their choice.