Originally Posted by Goldwingnut (Post 2350856)

So Marathon, at what value do you place a person's integrity, you obviously think mine is worth less than a thousand dollars, what about the $200 donor, am I also beholding to them also? How about the $50 donor? Is $10 too much? Where do you draw the line, what is too much? What do you think I am selling my integrity for? I will tell you this, it is not for sale, it never has been and never will be.
If you're unhappy with the maximum amount allowed by the state law then run for office and replace John Temple and lower it to what you think a man's integrity is worth. As I've said before, these statements reflect the commenter's value and morals, not mine.

Ok Stu, whom should I accept donations from, you seem to be the all knowing moral compass; share with all of us your divine wisdom on who is the right person and who is the wrong person to take a donation from. What makes one person better than another? Are they not also residents of Sumter County, what makes the developer and the other business leaders unworthy of being able to support one candidate or another, but other individuals worthy? Why stop with the developer and their sub-contractors? Why not their sub-subcontractors. Why not everyone who has ever made a dollar because of the developer, this would then include everyone who has ever sold a home built by the developer. That would include yourself, Stu, if you decide to sell your home and move back to New York, you would be unworthy.

Believe it or not, there are still a few of us left in the world that believe in doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do, that believe in serving their community for the good of the community, that there are still people with a level of integrity that really doesn't have a price tag on it.

Originally Posted by Normal (Post 2350914)

Remember, pro developer isn’t all bad or all good. It does however mean that the stance for pro Short Term Rental is important, it keeps pumps primed on the build, build, build machine.

Obviously a majority of residents aren’t dual land owners. It will be interesting to see how candidates lean, towards the majority who aren’t STR landlords, or towards the minority and the developer?

The topic is very important to many voters. It certainly will be a tough path to navigate politically.

Originally Posted by Normal (Post 2350914)

Remember, pro developer isn’t all bad or all good. It does however mean that the stance for pro Short Term Rental is important, it keeps pumps primed on the build, build, build machine.

Obviously a majority of residents aren’t dual land owners. It will be interesting to see how candidates lean, towards the majority who aren’t STR landlords, or towards the minority and the developer?

The topic is very important to many voters. It certainly will be a tough path to navigate politically.

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut (Post 2350721)

The developer and their subcontractors are as much a part of Sumter County as you, I, and every other individual is a part of Sumter County. Each and every one of us play a part in making Sumter County successful and prosperous. The business of Sumter County serve the residents and the residents support these businesses by giving them their business.

Take the example of a restaurant and its customers, if the county raises the taxes on the restaurant they have not choice but to raise their prices, the higher prices drive customers away. This reduces 1) sales tax revenues that help fund the county, 2) the need for employees who then have less to spend at other businesses, 3) the property values of the restaurant and its property tax contribution to the county budget, and these are just the tip of the iceberg. The reduced revenues have to be compensated for by raising taxes on everyone, leaving them less money to spend with business, leading to more business decline. This spirals out of control very quickly.
If the county raises the taxes on the residents the same spiral of decline is the same with just a slightly different starting point.
Ultimately rising taxes will drive residents away and drive businesses away, and result in even higher taxes for those that remain. Once this downwards trend starts, it is very difficult to reverse.
The only answer is to treat every part of the county - residents, businesses, farms, industry, etc. - fairly and not favor any one over the other and any favor or disfavor of any part starts the negative spiral. Working for the best interests of ALL of Sumter County is the only direction possible for the success of everyone.
What was happening 3 years ago when new members of the BOCC went on a vendetta against not just the developer but all the businesses of Sumter County started the downwards spiral that through their own stupidity and disregard for the laws of the State of Florida was arrested before significant damage could be done to our county's economy and its residents.

I don't work for or favor any entity in Sumter County, I work for all of Sumter County because we are all a part of the county.

Originally Posted by Altavia (Post 2351086)

Agreed and In addition I look at tax increases to support improving local infrastructure as an investment in the future for all of Sumter County as well as Florida.

Over 10,000 new homes added to the Sumter County property tax base the past 3 years alone means $60 million of additional real estate taxes per year.

This tax revenue is compounding at a rate over $18 million per year for residential property's alone and is why taxes have stayed relatively low relative to other counties.

Then there's the 15,000+ jobs.

The new roads are used by and benefit all of people in Sumter County. You can probably estimate better than I but it seems currently over 80% of the traffic in the expansion area is from people not living in the Villages.

Originally Posted by jimmy o (Post 2351035)

NOTHING is perfect!!! But The Villages is as close as I could ever have hoped for. THANK YOU Morse Family!!!! My wife and I came from Illinois (Cook County, which is always referred to as Crook County, and for a good reason). I feel sorry for all the folks that complain about this paradise, as I know that they will never be happy under any circumstances. They live here because there is nowhere better. Human nature is that we always want more and better, me too, I want better. But I sure as hell am thankful for this wonderful place, THE VILLAGES!!!

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC (Post 2351112)

80%. How did you come to that conclusion?

Originally Posted by Altavia (Post 2351132)

Besides, we all know a very low percentage of the "northern Village people come down south ;-)