Me too...

Now wondering where I will sleep tonight

You have multiple wives and a favorite among them????? Life is interesting in the Village of Stu :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

How many do you have?
Asking for a friend...

Doesnt everyone?

I do not understand why someone who is so unhappy with the situation in our community continues to live here. Do they love the fight? To me, life is too short to be in a place where you are constantly frustrated.

" Proof by emphatic assertion rarely works.", Hummm ? I'm not so sure about that. There was a time in my life I would have totally agreed, but that time was before "social" media, FB, TT, etc. It was before the time of everyone is an "expert", before the time of "moderators" who make God like decisions on who should be published and whose ideas or opinions should be repressed.

Now as for all the discussion about making changes to the fire department... my major concern when examining such issues is: WHOSE initial "idea" was it to "fix" (totally reconfigure) something that has certainly been outstanding in the 18 plus years since we built our home here ? We've found both the firemen and women, and the paramedics to be THE kindest, most efficient, most effective of any state/location where we've lived. Try moving to, oh, just fill in the name of any similar sized (125-150K) city, and call the fire department and ask them to just come over and help you by changing a battery, or a light bulb, etc. because you can't get on a ladder high enough to do that. The "new" fire department may be just wonderful, but, what if it isn't ? The old, "there is just no way to give exact answers about cost" is an old tactic of all politicians, and I always wonder, from local, to state, to federal, why are "we the people" always in such a hurry that we can't wait for a time when ALL the costs are know, rather in a bill before the congress, or a consideration before a local community council. IF the answer happens to be "well, we will NEVER know for sure until you pass it", then I say, "I pass". Was a chief administrator for many years, would not have lasted long in the position going in with plans and a presentation where the "actual" cost were labeled "unknown"....LOL ! Do I oppose a "new" fire plan and configuration, no, not necessarily, but my support on ANY issue depends on a much more exacting financial analysis ! As they say in Washington, "just pass it, you can find out later what all is in it"...LOL !

In no way "arguing" with you, but do you honestly believe that people who ask questions, or analyze an issue at any level, local, state, federal, are wasting their short life ? Isn't it part of our responsibility as citizens, even as human beings, to be concerned, pay attention, guard this great gift of a democratic republic ? I don't see a single word in the above that would make you think the writer (and no, I have no idea who the writer is) "love to fight" ? This is just one small local community, but to consider life "too short" to guard our most precious gift, by doing the home work, the hard work, of NOT just "zoning out" because after all, we're just a bunch of old people so hey, just have fun. No, think there is more that must make you think because a person is cognitively aware of what is going on in their community, that they are "unhappy" and should just "move out". ??? Just what ? at 60, 70, 80 just give up and sell, move, find a new community ? Humm ? Pretty tough emotionally on seniors. Perhaps, it's better to keep an active interest in the world around you, ask questions, DIG for the facts, don't settle for the surface "chatter" ? Just saying..

What if the measure was to approve a district and THEN hold elections for commissioners?
What if there was a corresponding ballot to place the remaining county fire in its own district too? Now ZERO common budget money is used for either.

I hate to disagree, but I must:

***The referendum is NOT to change our emergency personnel or services, it just deals with administration and funding. We should still have the same "kind, efficient and effective" people that we've had for the last 18 years

***Both the 2022 costs and the projected 2023 costs ARE known, there will probably just be some minor adjustments----probably a lot more "minor" than most bills before Congress

***A "more exacting financial analysis" would probably require psychic abilities, since it depends on the future actions of the Sumter County BOC

***I'm more concerned about the news editors for the MSM who make "God-like decisions" about which opinions are shown or suppressed. And the FCC license for a TV station requires them "to act in the best interest of the public". TOTV is a private site that can do as it pleases.

That would have made to much sense. Also the inter agency agreements should have been spelled out. The TVFD will still cover the whole area, including outside of Sumter County without the same funding mandate as Sumter Co Villagers will pay.

The POA recommends a no vote on this measure .

Which in and of itself is a great reason to vote yes

Which is exactly the way it is today. The VPSD covers those areas today. Those who live in the areas outside Sumter County don't pay the Sumter County taxes that fund the VPSD today.

Agreed.

:agree: :thumbup:

And our FIREFIGHTERS recommend voting YES! We have a GREAT Dept.! They are there for us..... are we going to be there for THEM?

VHA POA For Against Pro D Anti D

Please use your own good judgement to make the call for all issues that are before you for a vote and everyone calm down to enjoy the time we have left.

There is a certain faction who say this to anyone who dares to turn down the Koolaid and question anything the developer does. Especially the ones who feel like the developer has "given them" this life.

Wow, went to Laurel Manor to vote yesterday and had no waiting line. Those volunteers are excellent and even helpful to the point of warning me of cover plates on the floor that might be a trip hazard. Great experience from the time I pulled into the parking lot to leaving again.

:confused: Nearly 300 replies......and you quote me. I'm calm. Calmer than some someone upset about "cloned chips". :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Huh, can you give me a reason why they would recommend a no vote. They are up for a new contract next year and the IFD will certainly be better for their bargaining position. You make it seem like they don't get paid and are volunteers.

:blahblahblah::blahblahblah::blahblahblah: I'll be polite and just say, you have a vivid imagination. I never said or implied either. I know they are paid (underpaid IMHO) and they are NOT volunteers but rather PROFESSIONAL. You are also wrong from the beginning of your reply..... they don't recommend a NO vote..... they recommend a YES vote.
Page 10A in Friday's paper.

Visit them..... talk to them..... visit their web site. EDUCATE YOURSELF ON THE ISSUE BEFORE POSTING. :ho:

No, you didn't answer the question which is why would they recommend a no vote ? They have a lot to gain from recommending the yes vote. They can not educate me because they're standard answer is that's up to the Sumter County Board of Commissioners. I still find it hard to believe that a lurker for 20 years all of a sudden decides to get an account and start posting here. Somebody with a start date of June 2022 __________________________________________________ _____________________.:yuck::yuck::yuck: By the way, I still haven't decided, but some pushy posters here are really bringing out the no vote in me.

Hmmmmmm........won't go there:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

I believe she said to educate yourself.

Depending on the what the question is, the answer, "that's up to the Sumter County Board of Commissioners," could be exactly right.

If the question is, "what will my tax bill be?" that answer depends on quite a few things. Your tax bill is made up of:
- Property tax: Determined by the value of your property as set by the property appraiser and the tax rate set by the Sumter County Board of Commissioners
- School tax: Determined by the value of your property as set by the property appraiser and the tax rate set by the school board
- Water management fee: Determined by the value of your property as set by the property appraiser and the tax rate set by the SWFWMD board
- Maintenance fee: set by the CDD board
- Bond: Set by the bank and adjusted based on the investment decisions made by the CDD board
- Fire Assessment: $124 but I believe there is currently a $125 cap that can also be raised.
- IFD assessment: (there have been dozens of posts about this and an online calculator to use)

So the answer to "what will my tax bill be?" or even, "how will my tax bill change?" something the fire department just cannot answer. Not because anything is being hidden and not because of some conspiracy. It cannot be answered by the fire department simply because the IFD will have control over only a small portion of the bill.

Decisions by the Sumter County Property Appraiser, Sumter County School Board, and Sumter County Board of Commissioners will have much more impact on your tax bill than than the IFD will have.

I guess I should feel honored that the 3 most prolific posters in this thread commented on my post. Suprised nobody brought up the whole fire impact fee that other counties charge on new properties.

Interesting thought on fire impact fees. Some counties in Florida charge developers a one time fire impact fee for new construction. (e.g. Orange County) I don’t think the Villlages Developer would be required to pay any fire impact fees on new houses if we pass the independent fire department. The rest of Sumter County that is not in the boundaries of The Villages is also being heavily developed with all the new developments spread around Wildwood and the county would still need to provide increased fire protection for this area. Also, more schools may have to be built in the county because of all the new homes and apartments being built. Taxes may have to be increased.

************** endorsed of the new Fire District?
 

Was surprised by this editorial by the other Villages news media. Must be GOOD thing since they are the balancing news to the Daily Sun! Now both organizations have officially endorsed the amendment.

https://www.**************.com/2022/...ct-referendum/

The ONLY criterion that should be used here is, will the service be better or not? Judging by the reaction to the ambulance service (and I realize they're not the same thing) the answer is yes.

Since I cannot put in the link, try searching for villagers-should-vote-in-their-own-self-interests-on-independent-fire-district-referendum if you do not see the editorial. It was posted yesterday. Also found the editorial by searching for "vote" on the alternate news sight.

Service should not be the only criterion. Cost should be a criterion. Management should be a criterion. The effect on the rest of Sumter County should be a criterion.

Problem is, much of the other criteria seem to be somewhat thinly-disguised versions of "but the developer will make MONEYYYYY if it approved".

Personally I don't give two hoots in hell if the developer makes money or not. A delay in service of mere minutes can cost thousands of dollars in lost property or lives. That is what matters.

If this passes, and the developer is making money, then could there be less money available for running the fire department? Wouldn't that eventually hurt response times?

How can it be both better and worse?

First Post.
Welcome to ToTV.


Could be more money, could be less money, could be the same money.

With change, comes change and the definition of better vs. worse varies.

:shocked:

Why am I always suspicious of new posters? I’m always trying to guess who they were before they got banned. :1rotfl:

I didn't trust myself until I had 50 posts.

I've voted so it really doesn't matter now. All I can hope for is that the better answer wins, whatever that may be. To me, it is not about winning and losing, but how it effects the community. Just like when voting for anything else. Hopefully, everyone else on here will think the same way. On the other hand, it is only human nature to want to save the money you earned and not have it spent frivolously by someone else.

Question. The two fire departments took over the ambulance service 10-1 Is the cost of that service in the budget numbers that you are taking out in your calculation? How was the ambulance paid for in the past, was it all from transport fees or was the county paying for part of the contract. Thanks for the article.

Cost of Ambulance Services
 

In the county budget, you deduct the two fire department fundings and determine the amount the rate should go down. Does that number include the cost of running the ambulance service for the new fiscal year or is that elsewhere in the budget?

How was the ambulance service paid for in the past? Was it all from transport fees or did the county pay part of the cost to provide those services?

thanks for the info