[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by Kenswing

I’ve known Don casually since we moved here over three years ago. I believe him to be a very principled person. Although we rib each other about which branch of the military we chose to serve in he seems to make the right decisions otherwise.
My thinking for why he was the beneficiary of the contributions he’s received is because the Developer knows there’s absolutely no chance of being treated fairly by Don’s opponent, given their history. I don’t believe that Don is a darling of the Developer either. They have butted heads plenty in the past. I think it’s a matter of the Developer feels they have a better chance of being represented fairly if Don is in office.

In my home, we all honor military service!
I think if we’re all being candid, not video recorded or deposed....we would want all money out of politics. It’s an expensive proposition to run for and maintain an elected position. We get it. But we know that will never happen. In the interim we have to do our due diligence and follow the money and make our decisions accordingly.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

The phrase that popped into my mind when reading some of these posts was, "all are equal but some are more equal than others."



On the issue of taxes, a few recent items stick in my mind:
- An agreement was made many years ago that resulted in the County raising the tax rate by nearly 30% to pay for road improvements made necessary by additional development
- When an increase to the road impact fee seemed about to pass, a state law was rushed through to retroactively cancel the increase and we know what happened to two BoCC members who were in favor of the increase
- When a new fee structure was proposed for fire protection that would have increase fees for businesses and decrease taxes for residents, the BoCC listened to those businesses and rejected the plan that they had initially supported.
- When separate MSBUs were proposed for TVPSD and SCFEMS, studies found that outside the Villages the burden should be shouldered by the businesses while inside the Villages the burden should be shouldered by the residents.
- With the cost of fire protection removed from the general fund, the BoCC is proposing to keep the tax rate at the rollback rate, add the MSTU rate, and promote this as a tax reduction when when it is effectively a 13% tax increase for residents of the Villages and more for those outside the Villages

all taxpayers are equal, but some are more equal than others
taxes (and fees) should be applied fairly, but more fairly for some than for others

Well said!

[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by crash

Where were you when the developers cronies raised our taxes 25%. That 25% was so that the tax payers were paying for the roads the developer needed to expand. The current issue is raising our fire fee so that you the tax payer could pay for new fire stations and equipment so he could still expand. New development should pay for its self like in every other county in the country.

You are believing the POA misinformation way too much. Over $11m of the $21m increase was needed for road maintenance on 2 of the busiest roads in the county Morse and Buena Vista. Maintenance under state law cannot be paid for with impact fees and raising these fees would have never had an impact on the budget increase that was passed primarily to cover these maintenance costs. The majority of the rest of the increase was necessitated by the county growth that triggered new levels of minimum services and compensation mandated by the state.

The fire fees are going up because the residents demanded better ambulance services - they were upset about having to wait 2 hours for transport to the hospital, imagine that. Faster response requires more vehicles and staff which carry a higher cost, which must be paid for by everyone.
Two new stations are under construction (48 & 49) that are being paid for and equipped by the developer and will be leased back to the VPSDDD with eventual transfer of ownership. Station 46 is being built and equipped by the VCCDD in response to the separation of the 2 fire departments, that is funded from their capital reserves.

On the subject of funding the growth, it is self funding and in a very positive way for the county. The county road agreement with the developer for the major roads are paid for with impact fees with 5 and 15 year deferrals - the county doesn't pay the developer until after the houses are built and impact fees are collected and held until the invoices are due. Comparing Sumter impact fees to other counties is apples and oranges. Other counties charge a "parks and recreation" impact fee, the developer builds all that and it cost the county nothing, fire impact fee I've already covered, school impact fee - the retirement community adds nothing to the schools and supports the schools with value-based school property taxes, and let's not forget that the charter schools were built by the developer at zero cost to the tax payers. Other infrastructure is built by the developer - water/sewer, residential roads, utility infrastructure are all put in by the developer and are either paid for by the bond or through closing assessments ($11000 on my second home just for utilities).
Take a close look at the Lake County fees and you will see that it's not $12K+ in impact fees for an age restricted home, it's just over $1200 (there is no school impact fee for AR homes), the POA put out complete deceptive information in the "Take back Sumter" email, they can't deal with real fact because they are blinded by their "I hate the developer" agenda.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by Kenswing

I’ve known Don casually since we moved here over three years ago. I believe him to be a very principled person. Although we rib each other about which branch of the military we chose to serve in he seems to make the right decisions otherwise.
My thinking for why he was the beneficiary of the contributions he’s received is because the Developer knows there’s absolutely no chance of being treated fairly by Don’s opponent, given their history. I don’t believe that Don is a darling of the Developer either. They have butted heads plenty in the past. I think it’s a matter of the Developer feels they have a better chance of being represented fairly if Don is in office.
Whether you Don or not. Whether you’re going to vote for him or not. You at least have to respect the fact that he’s on here willing to subject himself to what pretty much amounts to a no win situation. Where are all the other candidates?

To answer your last sentence....DW is a regular on ToTV....his adoption services and his for profit YouTube drops are a constant...good for him. I don’t understand how answering a stakeholders questions is ‘a no win situation ‘....it comes with the position! In the case of OM, he’s in office currently....and with the exception of the 75 days his detractors gleefully celebrated...in the county jail.....he’s always been available to his constituents. I don’t see any OM questions on here because he doesn’t take developer or TV management or vendor money. If you want to change the narrative....start a new thread!

[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by crash

No his competitor was falsely imprisoned for working for the residents and trying to get the developer to pay his own bills to expand. You must of missed his conviction was thrown out. What does it say about a man who went through what he went through to get back up and come out fighting for the residents of Sumter County.

$282,000 vs $13,000. Look at the donors of the $282,000 contractors and those working for the developer.

I'll not comment on Miller beyond saying it was all self-inflected due to his disregard for Florida Sunshine laws.

You should be asking why nobody is contributing to the campaigns of our opponents, they are campaigning on a platform and with the backing of groups that most in Sumter County want no part of again.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

I'll not comment on Miller beyond saying it was all self-inflected due to his disregard for Florida Sunshine laws.

You should be asking why nobody is contributing to the campaigns of our opponents, they are campaigning on a platform and with the backing of groups that most in Sumter County want no part of again.

Independent candidates across the nation raise less than their special interest heavily funded opponents....regardless of what capital letter is in the parentheses!

You know OM was wrongly convicted and you benefited from his circumstances by a relationship between a chief executive and his big donor friend.....our developer. Again, perfectly legal. But save us the holier than thou narrative. The money trail fills out the script.

[LeRoySmith]

I'd like to see campaign finance, investing (inside trading) and lobbing reform from dog catcher to the president.

As soon as money comes into the equation people are beholding (or can have the appearance of impropriety). I'd like to see a world where politicians serve the people, not themselves. How can a broke candidate become a millionaire in a handful of years? How can there not be decisions that aren't for the greater good in that situation?

I won't/can't comment on this local race but when you look at the donation and influence situation from a higher level this can't be what's best for everyone.

I rarely say anything here that's the least bit serious but this is one that I think could use some serious thought.


I'm not very happy that you all pulled me out of my 10 year old boy mindset for a minute but I'm going straight back as soon as I hit save

[FredMitchell]

How is this thread not about politics?

I got officially warned when I put up a link that allowed you to see a market and invest / gamble in futures on who would win nominations and presidential elections and did NOT make a single comment about politics!

[Moderator]

Originally Posted by FredMitchell

How is this thread not about politics?

I got officially warned when I put up a link that allowed you to see a market and invest / gamble in futures on who would win nominations and presidential elections and did NOT make a single comment about politics!

We allow “some” leeway for local politics. Once it turns into a partisan punch fest or ventures outside the realm of local issues, posts will be removed or the thread shut down.

[Michael 61]

Originally Posted by Moderator

We allow “some” leeway for local politics. Once it turns into a partisan punch fest or ventures outside the realm of local issues, posts will be removed or the thread shut down.

Thanks for clarifying - I sure hope people here can be respectful without resorting to shaming and name-calling.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by FredMitchell

How is this thread not about politics?

I got officially warned when I put up a link that allowed you to see a market and invest / gamble in futures on who would win nominations and presidential elections and did NOT make a single comment about politics!

Hmm thought it was about junk mail

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

I'll not comment on Miller beyond saying it was all self-inflected due to his disregard for Florida Sunshine laws.

You should be asking why nobody is contributing to the campaigns of our opponents, they are campaigning on a platform and with the backing of groups that most in Sumter County want no part of again.

This will be it for me on this one Don.....but wow...just wow!

The Sunshine Law which in most states is the Open Meeting Law is administrative in enforcement. Never, have i ever heard of an open meeting law violation resulting in jail time. Fines?.. Yes Resignations?... Yes Prison?... Never!
The larger point is when 'somebody' wants you really bad..... the lengths those 'somebodys' will go to ruin someone, are as clear as the central FL sky! It could happen to anyone of us and that alone should scare any sane and clear thinking individual.

To your second point...Most Villagers that you represent cannot afford their monthly expenses let alone trying to fire off a $1,000 political contribution to a neighbor.. in a LOCAL election. That statement alone is cause for concern.

[Michael 61]

Originally Posted by Shipping up to Boston

This will be it for me on this one Don.....but wow...just wow!

The Sunshine Law which in most states is the Open Meeting Law is administrative in enforcement. Never, have i ever heard of an open meeting law violation resulting in jail time. Fines?.. Yes Resignations?... Yes Prison?... Never!
The larger point is when 'somebody' wants you really bad..... the lengths those 'somebodys' will go to ruin someone, are as clear as the central FL sky! It could happen to anyone of us and that alone should scare any sane and clear thinking individual.

To your second point...Most Villagers that you represent cannot afford their monthly expenses let alone trying to fire off a $1,000 political contribution to a neighbor.. in a LOCAL election. That statement alone is cause for concern.

Source please - “Most villagers that you represent cannot afford their monthly expenses” - That’s news to me and probably all of my neighbors.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

Source please - “Most villagers that you represent cannot afford their monthly expenses” - That’s news to me and probably all of neighbors.

*Source: ToTV threads and archives. For those that actually take the time to read ALL posts on ALL threads. But im not gonna argue with anybody who vouches for the 'friendliness' of 150K Villagers. With that kind of knowledge....my statement should be a slam dunk

[Michael 61]

Originally Posted by Shipping up to Boston

*Source: ToTV threads and archives. For those that actually take the time to read ALL posts on ALL threads. But im not gonna argue with anybody who vouches for the 'friendliness' of 150K Villagers. With that kind of knowledge....my statement should be a slam dunk

Life and retirement in The Villages is great - I hope you find that to be true when/if you move here.