[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

The funding for the town squares entertainment comes from both the Sumter County Tourism Development Council and The Villages (the company not the CDDs, amenity fees, or any other resident funded source). Both have agreed to contribute $120,000 this year for the entertainment. The SCTDC collects about $600K annually with the 2% short term (<6 month) occupancy tax. It is estimated that 20,000+ room nights annually are contributed to hotel occupancy in Sumter County as a result of the town square entertainment investment. Sumter County benefits significantly from additional tax revenues collect from visitors' patronage of local businesses, including restaurants, gas stations, and shopping. The town square merchants, who contribute significantly to The Villages portion of the contribution, benefit by the increased business before and during the time the entertainment is provided.

Does it, the entertainment, help sell houses, absolutely. Selling houses keeps a significant segment of the workforce in Sumter and a dozen surrounding counties employed and is the primary economic engine of Sumter County. Thousands of jobs rely directly on the construction of homes in The Villages, and many thousands more off-site 2nd, 3rd, and 4th tier jobs supporting the construction industry also rely on this work. The construction of homes also drives a substantial secondary construction industry in the tri-county area - the companies you hire to do work on your home after you buy it - hundreds of small businesses employing a few thousand people. I'm not saying that the entertainment is responsible for all these jobs, but it does contribute positively to the overall economy of the area.

And, we as the residents, get to enjoy free entertainment every night (excluding the COVID period) at a safe and convenient location. Don't shoot the goose that lays the golden egg.

I would like to see the original poster site their reference for their post. If in fact some candidate is espousing such a position, then they are demonstrating a lack of understanding of the basic economics of Sumter County and calls into question what other areas of how the county works do they lack understanding. Their suitability for this leadership position would then be questionable. While I don't totally agree or like some of the positions of the current County Commissioner, the lack of understanding already demonstrated by some of the candidates running to replace them is even more scary and could lead us (Sumter County) down a self-destructive path. Perhaps the old adage "better the devil you know than the devil you don't" has some play here. Think long and hard before you vote.

This post needs to be repeated so those who don't know how the funding works can quit speculating.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Dlbonivich

This guy is not to smart. That money is given from entertainment tax and would just go to something else in the county. This is why you need well informed and educated people to run things. Only thing he cares about is his wife’s pet project.

No we need someone who has NO in they’re vocabulary, so they can say NO on occasions.

[airstreamingypsy]

Originally Posted by Marathon Man

Those trying to get onto the county commision have basically vowed to do everything anti-developer. How is this any different than doing everything pro-developer?

Has it occurred to you that this rumor could have been started by one of the incumbents?

[Dgizzi]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

The funding for the town squares entertainment comes from both the Sumter County Tourism Development Council and The Villages (the company not the CDDs, amenity fees, or any other resident funded source). Both have agreed to contribute $120,000 this year for the entertainment. The SCTDC collects about $600K annually with the 2% short term (<6 month) occupancy tax. It is estimated that 20,000+ room nights annually are contributed to hotel occupancy in Sumter County as a result of the town square entertainment investment. Sumter County benefits significantly from additional tax revenues collect from visitors' patronage of local businesses, including restaurants, gas stations, and shopping. The town square merchants, who contribute significantly to The Villages portion of the contribution, benefit by the increased business before and during the time the entertainment is provided.

Does it, the entertainment, help sell houses, absolutely. Selling houses keeps a significant segment of the workforce in Sumter and a dozen surrounding counties employed and is the primary economic engine of Sumter County. Thousands of jobs rely directly on the construction of homes in The Villages, and many thousands more off-site 2nd, 3rd, and 4th tier jobs supporting the construction industry also rely on this work. The construction of homes also drives a substantial secondary construction industry in the tri-county area - the companies you hire to do work on your home after you buy it - hundreds of small businesses employing a few thousand people. I'm not saying that the entertainment is responsible for all these jobs, but it does contribute positively to the overall economy of the area.

And, we as the residents, get to enjoy free entertainment every night (excluding the COVID period) at a safe and convenient location. Don't shoot the goose that lays the golden egg.

I would like to see the original poster site their reference for their post. If in fact some candidate is espousing such a position, then they are demonstrating a lack of understanding of the basic economics of Sumter County and calls into question what other areas of how the county works do they lack understanding. Their suitability for this leadership position would then be questionable. While I don't totally agree or like some of the positions of the current County Commissioner, the lack of understanding already demonstrated by some of the candidates running to replace them is even more scary and could lead us (Sumter County) down a self-destructive path. Perhaps the old adage "better the devil you know than the devil you don't" has some play here. Think long and hard before you vote.

THANK YOU for this very detailed info. Appreciate your info and time..I think ALOT of homes would go up for sale if that happened

[EdFNJ]

Originally Posted by Velvet

How’d you do that? What’s your secret? My house is an ordinary designer at Mallory, average size house, average size lot.

I apologize! I just looked again and I looked at the wrong thing. It actually went up 10% (~$100). It's an "ordinary" 2/2 Colony in Amelia. Still not close to 25%. Maybe the Florida SOH had something to do with it.

[Doodle]

Quit spreading fake news. Come with facts or don’t come at all.

[EdFNJ]

Originally Posted by biker1

Some possibilities:

1) He doesn't live in Sumter County.
2) For some reason, the assessed value of his house dropped significantly.
3) He applied for the homestead exemption.

I was wrong. It actually went up 10% (~ $100). Was looking at non-ad valorem in error which should go down about $2.

[Reedpanos@gmail.com]

The funding for the entertainment on the square is not going anywhere. The EMS team supports the entertainment on the square for at least Sumter county. Spanish Springs is in Lake County. More example of Sumter county residents subsidizing the counties next to us. Another example is school taxes. 75 % of the village charter school state reimbursement goes to Marion and lake county due to 75% of the students are from Marion and lake county. If there is issues of entertainment on the squares, it will be due to decisions made by the developer. Think hacienda rec center!

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by CanTho

I disagree. One of the huge selling points is 365 days live entertainment.

Think about it the concession stands, restaurants, various businesses, all rely on " Live Entertainment ".

Rocky, Studio 77, Valerie G, Scooter, etc. etc. will all be back once the Vaccine is out which will be pretty soon.

Vaccine out pretty soon? Don't hold your breath. That is NOT what the medical experts are saying. You could go to Russia about the end of the year and they MIGHT have their UNPROVEN one available to tourists at a HUGE cost. Do that IF you dare! Even when the US vaccine is PROVEN effective - there will be a long, long time delay before it is available to ordinary peons like you and me. 1st the NBA, NFL, and MLB players get theirs and owners and staff and etc. Then University Presidents and staff - then hospital Soctors and staff. Then MAYBE me and you. AND the ANTI-VACCERS (up to 50% of the US population) will NOT get the vaccine - so, we are right back to where we were. Wearing masks or NOT wearing masks - pretending everything is normal or being cautious and caring about other people. The 1918 pandemic took 4 years to resolve and this one could affect people's hearts for their lifetimes, children also. So, dancing to live music at the square may be something that was only done in your past, pre-CV lifetimes.

[biker1]

The "county tax" millage rate went up by about 25%. Your assessed value may have also gone up. The "school tax" millage rate was essentially unchanged. There are a couple of other components to the "total" tax bill. They were essentially unchanged. Since the "county tax" is about 1/2 of the "total" tax, for most people the "total tax" bill went up about 12%. This assumes your were homesteaded and you paid off your bond. If you still have your bond, the percentage increase will be lower. Your milage may vary.

Originally Posted by EdFNJ

I apologize! I just looked again and I looked at the wrong thing. It actually went up 10% (~$100). It's an "ordinary" 2/2 Colony in Amelia. Still not close to 25%. Maybe the Florida SOH had something to do with it.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Robbie0723

So it's ok to send children back to school with teachers that have risk factors in high risk closed interior space but not ok to open the squares in fresh air outdoor space with significantly lower risk of virus transmission?

We now have over six months of evidence with outdoor activities in The Villages being low risk.

Good example of comparing and contrasting to show a dichotomy. Kudos.

[MrGolf]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

The funding for the town squares entertainment comes from both the Sumter County Tourism Development Council and The Villages (the company not the CDDs, amenity fees, or any other resident funded source). Both have agreed to contribute $120,000 this year for the entertainment. The SCTDC collects about $600K annually with the 2% short term (<6 month) occupancy tax. It is estimated that 20,000+ room nights annually are contributed to hotel occupancy in Sumter County as a result of the town square entertainment investment. Sumter County benefits significantly from additional tax revenues collect from visitors' patronage of local businesses, including restaurants, gas stations, and shopping. The town square merchants, who contribute significantly to The Villages portion of the contribution, benefit by the increased business before and during the time the entertainment is provided.

Does it, the entertainment, help sell houses, absolutely. Selling houses keeps a significant segment of the workforce in Sumter and a dozen surrounding counties employed and is the primary economic engine of Sumter County. Thousands of jobs rely directly on the construction of homes in The Villages, and many thousands more off-site 2nd, 3rd, and 4th tier jobs supporting the construction industry also rely on this work. The construction of homes also drives a substantial secondary construction industry in the tri-county area - the companies you hire to do work on your home after you buy it - hundreds of small businesses employing a few thousand people. I'm not saying that the entertainment is responsible for all these jobs, but it does contribute positively to the overall economy of the area.

And, we as the residents, get to enjoy free entertainment every night (excluding the COVID period) at a safe and convenient location. Don't shoot the goose that lays the golden egg.

I would like to see the original poster site their reference for their post. If in fact some candidate is espousing such a position, then they are demonstrating a lack of understanding of the basic economics of Sumter County and calls into question what other areas of how the county works do they lack understanding. Their suitability for this leadership position would then be questionable. While I don't totally agree or like some of the positions of the current County Commissioner, the lack of understanding already demonstrated by some of the candidates running to replace them is even more scary and could lead us (Sumter County) down a self-destructive path. Perhaps the old adage "better the devil you know than the devil you don't" has some play here. Think long and hard before you vote.

Thank you for clarification of the funding for the squares. The entertainment of course would continue irrespective of the current contribution from the County, as it is in the best interest of the surrounding business owners and the developers. The entertainment draws people who buy clothing, meals, golf equipment and near and dear to the developers, housing.

I am disappointed by your assessment that the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t . I have taken time to know the three challengers and what they stand for. I can assure you they are the furthest thing from being the devil. If responsible growth and representing the people of the County is bad then by all means support the incumbents.

I am surprised there is no mention of the fear tactics used by the incumbents showing the Portland OR riots inferring it could happen here is an embarrassment.

Incumbents are tightly in the pocket of the developers and if you are ok with that then continue to support. I for one am ready for a change. I for one am in favor of someone questioning the direction and not afraid to stand up for the people of Sumter County.

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by airstreamingypsy

Has it occurred to you that this rumor could have been started by one of the incumbents?

Pro Developer we all benefit, anti Developer we all lose.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by MrGolf

Thank you for clarification of the funding for the squares. The entertainment of course would continue irrespective of the current contribution from the County, as it is in the best interest of the surrounding business owners and the developers. The entertainment draws people who buy clothing, meals, golf equipment and near and dear to the developers, housing.

I am disappointed by your assessment that the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t . I have taken time to know the three challengers and what they stand for. I can assure you they are the furthest thing from being the devil. If responsible growth and representing the people of the County is bad then by all means support the incumbents.

I am surprised there is no mention of the fear tactics used by the incumbents showing the Portland OR riots inferring it could happen here is an embarrassment.

Incumbents are tightly in the pocket of the developers and if you are ok with that then continue to support. I for one am ready for a change. I for one am in favor of someone questioning the direction and not afraid to stand up for the people of Sumter County.

So is the newspaper. A large part of the controversy here about entertainment, is that the facts are gray, nebulous. A truly free press and other media COULD help greatly to allow more people to have more INFORMED opinions and to make better decisions.

[Schuvwj]

Originally Posted by JoMar

I'm ok with the tax increase, compared to where I lived before I'm still ahead of the game. They could have raised them every year, probably should have, but then the posts here would be around what are they doing with the money. I happen to like living here and the services the County provides. I like the convenience and openness of the services. I like that they work closely with the Developer to provide forward and coordinated thinking and actions don't really care what that arrangement really is or isn't. I know the rest of the County needs support and hope this tax program will help them also. I'm not convinced that changing the team won't take us backwards, but then we will have something else to complain about here right?

That is exactly what they said in New York! We don’t need or want any of that crap!