[Bilyclub]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

My fire assessment is $125. What are we talking, a savings of $10 - $15???

Isn’t having better ambulance response time, if you, your friend, your spouse needs ambulance worth it?

I think most of us have seen incidents with 30 - 40 minutes waits for the ambulance.

The ambulance service has nothing to do with whether or not there is an independent fire district.

[twoplanekid]

Originally Posted by Bilyclub

The ambulance service has nothing to do with whether or not there is an independent fire district.

That is also my understand so why the cost increase if we vote for the Fire District? As all Village CDDs have a percentage of their funds allocated for District staff, I am sure that a new Fire District would also have funds used for this same purpose which is reasonable. However, the more CDDs created with more funds going into the district staff funds pot doesn't seem to reduce the funds my board is always required to provide. Is there a cost saving? I am not sure.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by twoplanekid

That is also my understand so why the cost increase if we vote for the Fire District? As all Village CDDs have a percentage of their funds allocated for District staff, I am sure that a new Fire District would also have funds used for this same purpose which is reasonable. However, the more CDDs created with more funds going into the district staff funds pot doesn't seem to reduce the funds my board is always required to provide. Is there a cost saving? I am not sure.

It's complicated.

Today you pay $124 plus about 1.63 mils for fire service. The 1.63 mils funds both the VPSD and the SCFD.

If the IFD is put in place and IF a separate tax is levied on the non-Villagers for the SCFD and IF the Sumter County BoCC doesn't increase taxes THEN you will only pay something like $124 plus about 0.99 mils for the VPSD. HOWEVER:
- The BoCC *might* continue to fund the SCFD through the general fund which means we will be taxed for that as well
- The BoCC *might* take the opportunity to effectively increase taxes by not reducing the millage as much as they should (they would still talk about a decrease but it would be less of a decrease then we would expect)

Overall cost savings? Probably not. The VPSD will still have the same expenses as before. The IFD will require five new commissioners and any administrative costs that go along with that (printing costs, scheduling costs, lawyer costs, etc). Much of this would probably be accomplished through utilizing the staff on the VCCDD similar to the other CDDs but there would be some nominal cost for that.

The benefit of the IFD, the reason for a "yes" vote, is the protection of the VPSD and the new ambulances from any changes by the BoCC. The ambulances are part of the VPSD as of this month and only because the BoCC decided to go that route. There is nothing preventing them from deciding next year to take the service away from the VPSD and go with a centralized, Sumter County ambulance service. During the discussions for the ambulance one of the members of the ad-hoc committee voted to merge the VPSD and SCFD. He was in an advisory position at that time but he is now one of the BoCC. There is nothing preventing the BoCC from deciding to essentially end the VPSD by voting to merge the two. A vote for the IFD is a vote to protect the VPSD from the BoCC.

[twoplanekid]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

It's complicated.

Today you pay $124 plus about 1.63 mils for fire service. The 1.63 mils funds both the VPSD and the SCFD.

If the IFD is put in place and IF a separate tax is levied on the non-Villagers for the SCFD and IF the Sumter County BoCC doesn't increase taxes THEN you will only pay something like $124 plus about 0.99 mils for the VPSD. HOWEVER:
- The BoCC *might* continue to fund the SCFD through the general fund which means we will be taxed for that as well
- The BoCC *might* take the opportunity to effectively increase taxes by not reducing the millage as much as they should (they would still talk about a decrease but it would be less of a decrease then we would expect)

Overall cost savings? Probably not. The VPSD will still have the same expenses as before. The IFD will require five new commissioners and any administrative costs that go along with that (printing costs, scheduling costs, lawyer costs, etc). Much of this would probably be accomplished through utilizing the staff on the VCCDD similar to the other CDDs but there would be some nominal cost for that.

The benefit of the IFD, the reason for a "yes" vote, is the protection of the VPSD and the new ambulances from any changes by the BoCC. The ambulances are part of the VPSD as of this month and only because the BoCC decided to go that route. There is nothing preventing them from deciding next year to take the service away from the VPSD and go with a centralized, Sumter County ambulance service. During the discussions for the ambulance one of the members of the ad-hoc committee voted to merge the VPSD and SCFD. He was in an advisory position at that time but he is now one of the BoCC. There is nothing preventing the BoCC from deciding to essentially end the VPSD by voting to merge the two. A vote for the IFD is a vote to protect the VPSD from the BoCC.

As I know some of the people on the Sumter BoCC personally to then trust them and don't know anyone on the yet to be created Fire District board, your thoughts lead me more and more in one direction than another. Plus cost are an important.

[Dond1959]

Originally Posted by twoplanekid

As I know some of the people on the Sumter BoCC personally to then trust them and don't know anyone on the yet to be created Fire District board, your thoughts lead me more and more in one direction than another. Plus cost are an important.

Can you guarantee those on the BoCC that you “trust” will be on the board in 10, 15, or 20 years from now? People need to remember we were one vote away from combining VPSD and SCFD. Take the politics out of the process and approve the IFD.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by twoplanekid

As I know some of the people on the Sumter BoCC personally to then trust them and don't know anyone on the yet to be created Fire District board, your thoughts lead me more and more in one direction than another. Plus cost are an important.

You trust them in what way?

I stated:
- They might fund the SCFD through the general fund. The last I read is they have a study going to determine how to fund the SCFD. I believe they will find that a separate tax for the non-Villagers will be unacceptably high. The SCFD will need to be funded somehow and if a non-Villager tax won't do it then it will come from the general fund which means it will come from you and me.

- They might reduce the millage rate by less than the amount currently used for fire service. This is in their 2024 budget projections right now! $28M of fire service expenses have been removed but the ad valorem revenue has been reduced by only about $14M (possibly $18M but certainly not $28M). These are just projections so maybe they will be modified next June when the real numbers are available.

- They might decide to combine the VPSD and SCFD. This has already been proposed by one of the board members (I think more than one but can't find anything to back that up). When the study reveals that the cost of a separate SCFD is too high, it could easily be argued that combining the services would be more efficient. The BoCC would be taking the fiscally responsible action for all the residents of Sumter County.

Costs are important but not as important as the quality of the service. When you are kneeling next to someone who needs care and you are on the phone asking 911 how long it will take to get help to your door, an extra $10 or $100 per year will seem like a tiny price to pay for the answer to be five minutes rather than 35.

[valuemkt]

Another post that sensationalizes percentages instead of real dollars. Fire districts should look at how your property is protected. You can always live in the wilderness and pour well water on your burning house

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

My fire assessment is $125. What are we talking, a savings of $10 - $15???

Isn’t having better ambulance response time, if you, your friend, your spouse needs ambulance worth it?

I think most of us have seen incidents with 30 - 40 minutes waits for the ambulance.

Thanks for the better breakdown. Original article was misleading and suggested that total taxes were going up significantly and writer failed to state that property tax rates are capped. 20% on $125 is $25.00 or $2.08 a month

[Keefelane66]

Originally Posted by kansasr

The district government has posted a link where you can calculate what your new tax bill will be for the proposed fire district:
Florida Fire districts quicksearch
I suggest you check it out if you're a disabled veteran or even someone who has a significant save our homes deduction.
Neither of these benefits are applicable for the fire district assessment. Instead, it is based upon the total market value (relative improvement value)
Depending upon the level of disable veteran discount and/or save our homes allowances, property taxes could increase anywhere from 15% to 25%.
I seriously doubt the homes are going to see a similar reduction in their Sumter County taxes when the adjustment is calculated for the new fire district.

It's just a way of scamming people out of more tax money. We already have an almost 1/2 mile walking trail that was pushed through now finding out its to narrow who signed off on that fiasco

[Bilyclub]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

You trust them in what way?

I stated:
- They might fund the SCFD through the general fund. The last I read is they have a study going to determine how to fund the SCFD. I believe they will find that a separate tax for the non-Villagers will be unacceptably high. The SCFD will need to be funded somehow and if a non-Villager tax won't do it then it will come from the general fund which means it will come from you and me.

- They might reduce the millage rate by less than the amount currently used for fire service. This is in their 2024 budget projections right now! $28M of fire service expenses have been removed but the ad valorem revenue has been reduced by only about $14M (possibly $18M but certainly not $28M). These are just projections so maybe they will be modified next June when the real numbers are available.

- They might decide to combine the VPSD and SCFD. This has already been proposed by one of the board members (I think more than one but can't find anything to back that up). When the study reveals that the cost of a separate SCFD is too high, it could easily be argued that combining the services would be more efficient. The BoCC would be taking the fiscally responsible action for all the residents of Sumter County.

Costs are important but not as important as the quality of the service. When you are kneeling next to someone who needs care and you are on the phone asking 911 how long it will take to get help to your door, an extra $10 or $100 per year will seem like a tiny price to pay for the answer to be five minutes rather than 35.

So you are saying we are going to pay higher taxes no matter which way the vote goes and the added prospect of losing the independent TV department.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Bilyclub

So you are saying we are going to pay higher taxes no matter which way the vote goes and the added prospect of losing the independent TV department.

Yes, that's the way the numbers and the history look to me.