The developer does not manage any of these faciliies now - even the ones he owns. All of the management is done by a professional staff on the CDD. As more and more of the property that the developer currently owns is turned over to the CDD, the management of these properties will be unchanged.

I believe District 1 has already been turned over but I'm not sure exactly when that happened. Seems to be working pretty well as far as I can see.

Reading for a cold day
 

District 1 and all Districts north of C.R. 466 was not turned over to the CDD, the CDD borrowed through tax-exempt bonds $448 million to BUY everything from golf courses to swimming pools, utility plants to guard houses from Morse.

The IRS thinks $448 million borrowed through tax-exempt bonds since 1993 should be taxable. That's because, the agency contends, the community-development districts, which run operations at the retirement community and sold the bonds, don't qualify as "real" governments and shouldn't get tax-free loans as cities and counties do.

In the revenue agent's May 18 letter, he urged the districts to take a dramatic and enormously costly step: recall and pay off $355 million worth of outstanding tax-free bonds.

News flash the CDD does not have $355 million however it does have assets golf courses, swimming pools, utility plants and guard houses. Understand Morse does not own this property the CDD of District 1 and all Districts north of C.R. 466 does.

The BIG OUCH!
http://andrewblechman.blogspot.com/2...n-ritchie.html

Big trouble in The Villages
(First of two parts.)
http://andrewblechman.blogspot.com/2...-villages.html

Big Trouble in The Villages (Part 2)
http://andrewblechman.blogspot.com/2...es-part-2.html

The POA Bulletin
POA Summary of the IRS/Bond Inquiry
http://www.poa4us.org/bulletins_file...etin200909.pdf

34 page document right from the IRS
http://www.ccfj.net/CDDVillagesIRSletter.pdf

That revenue agent has been "promoted" off this case.

Sigh. Guess that will teach me not to procrastinate. I meant to get a handle on all this. I really did. Sigh.

Good pick up Bogie, maybe the "reporter", who some believe has always been anti-Villages, will be "promoted" accordingly as well.

Shadow, your links appear to be dated in the prime of her Village bashing days.

I can think of a number of outside special interests, for an assortment of selfish reasons, who perversely enjoy perpetuating any contrived, exaggerated negative news that attacks The Villages community. I'm not suggesting all these issues are non-existent.

However, where is the balance? Where are the articles identifying the positive influences directly attributed to the development of The Villages from Lauren Ritchie, et al? Why don't we read or hear about the jobs, businesses, first class charter schools, hospitals, county tax dollars, medical services, library, road improvements, life time learning center, entertainment and cultural venues open to the public, etc., that benefit so many outside the Villages??? I guess some just miss the watermelon patches.

I am not advocating putting blinders on to the occasional concerns that will always surface with the growing pains of a community of 75,000 plus and expanding. I prefer to keep them in perspective and balance them against the overwhelming positive aspects of living here. I prefer to recognize the motivations of detractors whether they are inspired by jealousy, economic considerations, politics, obstruction of progress or plain mean spirited mischief making, for what they are.

Now....I'm off for another beautiful day in The Villages with glorious visions of breaking 90, picking up the mail, greeting my friends and neighbors at the mail station and getting back in time for the neighborhood keg party. So Linda, be of good cheer and have another great day in the Villages.

Thanks, Cabo. If only I could. We are stuck here in Sybericuse this winter :cold: but we are already thinking about when we can get back to the bubble.

I cannot believe this blog. We've been here ten years and have never had a problem with anything other than the lines at a restaurant. You folks are analyzing this to death. Grab you golf clubs and your wife and get down here!! You will love it. I'm not moving again. The Villages will be here long after we are all history. Where else can you live where you can jump in your golf cart and play golf, shop, go to the doc, go to the movie, go to a dance, watch a parade, etc...... So it's been a little cold this winter - sure beats being up north!! You will not find the value for your dollars that you will find here in The Villages anywhere else in the U.S.

Amen!

AND Hallelujah!

Does this mean it is ended?

I have read every single post in this thread and every single link within those posts. It has been interesting to see not only the subjective, but also the objective. And I really do appreciate the time that so many people took to share information and thoughts on this issue. I have a great deal of respect for the opinions found here.

Thank you.

This thread has really helped me to organize my thoughts about this stuff. And I realize that I can't really know for sure where it could all eventually go so I am starting to look at The Lifestyle like a dividend that pays out all along the way, like with a stock. I also think that TV's size is in its favor.

And I hope more information and thoughts will be added to this thread. Both the subjective and the objective. Even though there may be a few who might not agree with that idea. That's OK. But I think this thread has worked like a good conversation. And I hope the conversation continues. It might help others, too.

Boomer

I agree with you Boomer. I do not expect everyone to agree with me or have the same likes or dislikes but I do respect their right to have their own ideas and opinions. Open discussions can be very informative and give new insight on a variety of subjects. We all love TV or we would not be on this website but no one should blindly accept the mantra which may contain hidden motives. Trust but confirm.

Amenity fee
 

Not sure where this would go so I picked the closest subject. Maybe we missed the discussion but we have heard two explanations on the amenity fee. Real quick and easy question, once the fee is set can it change as long as you live in the same home at TV?

We only have one problem with the TOTV sight, we do not have enough time in the day to read all the great information and news that all of the great folks are offering. We know, what a problem to have!!!! Thank you all for the information and comments.

Musings on demographics in TV of late.
 

It seems in the last six months that TV is attracting younger people and those who want bigger houses.

Now I am hoping that the person who keeps careful statistics on sales on this forum can tell us if designers, larger villas and premier models have outsold cottages, ranches and village homes in the past six months.

I don't know how you would get information on the age of the residents who have recently bought here. But I am counting on BK...the supreme information gatherer.