[Burgy]

Originally Posted by willie10342@gmail.com

I am sorry, but I think the people living in Sumter County should start thinking about recalling the commissioner s in Sumter County.
Why is it so important to them to keep taxing and taxing.
I feel they work for Washington. There comes a point in time that it must stop. I think of those that are on fixed budgets and now the Hospital has taken issue with the increase. It has to stop especially when we were but with a 25% increase a few years ago.

They championed getting new commissioners but have been very quiet since about these issues.

[mk1126]

Yes, be wary of anything that Corder would write! Just a tool, of Florida, and T.V.

[PennBF]

Let's get real ! There are a lot of Companies, people, Contractors, Florida Government
Reps, etc etc. getting rich because of the Villages. With the kind of money floating around you can be assured a lot are doing anything they can to pick at the orchard of money fruit. Your pocket is part of that orchard. You elected a fine dedicated group of Commissioners to retake some control and now they are being attacked. When your voting booth freedom of choice is being attacked it is time to wake up! Allegedly influence and power and control can be ugly words if used against the citizens rather than for. What are the Florida Statue's governing population and growth like what is happening in The Villages. Are they truly protecting the residents or protecting the one's picking at the money tree? Maybe its time for the Florida Legislature to look at and study the current policies and practices in place and whether they are adquate to protect these Florida Citizens.

[Jerry Leinsing]

Like the Donald says” tell the same lie over and over again and eventually [the ill informed] people will believe it.
Can’t most of you find other more reliable sources for your information before you jump to conclusions out of ignorance? The Sun and VHA have an agenda besides delivering information. Try voicing your opinion using a Daily Sun “open letter to the editor “.

[Bilyclub]

Originally Posted by Aloha1

Which means, if true, less revenue for Sumter and therefore higher taxes for you.

University of Florida are nonprofit hospitals and according to the Sun and the Developer U of F would be the builder of the hospital down South so no taxes anyway.

[Villages Kahuna]

You just have missed the news that State Representative Brett Hage (FL 33) has filed a bill that would limit the amount of impact fees that could be required to be paid by developers to a low single-digit percentage. That probably would shift the cost of roads and infrastructure development in the southern end of The Villages to the taxpayers. The alternative would be that those projects wouldn’t be done and development would slow dramatically. Another alternative is that the Developer would pay for that infrastructure as he has in the past.

Remember, the three new County commissioners who were elected ousted three long-time commissioners, a couple who also worked for TV or their contractors, who were also bought and paid for. They were the ones who voted to increase property taxes by 25%. Their replacements quickly reversed those taxes leading to all the negative news published in The Daily Sun. When you read articles in that publication, remember who owns the paper!

So who is this Representative Hage? His full-time job is working as an executive for the Developer! Last year during 2019, he was paid $141,003 from the Holding Company of The Villages. He also was paid $113,554 from T&D Distribution Inc., $14,410 from T&D Concrete Inc. and $11,000 from T&D Supplies Inc. Altogether about $280,000. That’s what you call an elected politician that’s “bought and paid for”.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

Y

So who is this Representative Hage? His full-time job is working as an executive for the Developer! Last year during 2019, he was paid $141,003 from the Holding Company of The Villages. He also was paid $113,554 from T&D Distribution Inc., $14,410 from T&D Concrete Inc. and $11,000 from T&D Supplies Inc. Altogether about $280,000. That’s what you call an elected politician that’s “bought and paid for”.

Hopefully people remember this when he is next up for election and show him the door

[stebooo]

I just had to stop the paper. Yes I miss it a bit but overall not so much.

[jjombrello]

I would be in favor of recalling the three new ones.

[LG999]

I dont read the Daily Sun, but notice many people think it is a rag, so probably is.

Where should I go for dependable, “honest” news?

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by LG999

I dont read the Daily Sun, but notice many people think it is a rag, so probably is.

Where should I go for dependable, “honest” news?

What about those that don’t think it’s a rag?

[NAB20]

Originally Posted by crash

The commissioners that were just voted in are trying to roll back the tax increase by making the developer pay for the roads being built with their impact fee.

As it should be.

[Villages Kahuna]

C’ mon folks, think about what we read (“fed to us”) in the Daily Sun).

— The newest three County commissioners ARE the result of recalling three that simply voted any way the Developer wanted. Sumter County residents have already recalled commissioners who they felt had not acted in their best interests. Two more will be up for election in 2020.

With regard to the construction and funding of infrastructure for expanding residential and commercial development...

—-In most communities agreements on what infrastructure is needed and to will pay for it is the result of an arms length negotiation between the government and the Developer. The Developer’s obligation is collected by the Country in the form of an Impact Fee. That has not been possible in Sumter County because the commissioners were all essentially the Developer’s appointees, in almost all cases Developer or contractor employees. So the Developer decided what infrastructure was needed and who would pay for it.

—Normally in residential development the Developer pays for the necessary roads, utilities, etc. and then passes the cost on to residents in the form of an increase in the house prices.

—In The Villages the cost of infrastructure in each “village” is paid for with the proceeds of a municipal bond issued by the Developer and sold to investors. Here in TV that bond is divided equally and becomes the obligation of each home buyer, making the selling price of the home look less expensive, but still passing the cost of the infrastructure on the local homeowners who benefit.

—Until recently the cost of infrastructure needed for more extensive roads and commercial projects was paid for by the Developer and paid for with a portion of the rents collected from commercial tenants.

— A couple years ago the Developer and his “appointed” county commissioners came up with a different idea for paying for new infrastructure in the new southern portions of TV. They increased property taxes on ALL residents of Sumter County, even those 10-15 miles away in the northern end of TV who would almost never use the commercial development in the new southern end of TV.

—Sumter County residents expressed their dissatisfaction with a 25% increase in their property taxes by electing three new commissioners in the 2020 general election. Those new commissioners ran on a promise to roll back that tax increase.

—Three three new commissioners acted on their campaign promise and voted to roll back the tax increase. That is what has resulted in reactions which can easily be tracked back to the Developer, including scheduling public hearings at inconvenient locations, filling the parking lots at public hearings with contractor’s vehicles, all the articles published in The Daily Sun describing how the tax rollback will stall development in TV and put lots of people out of work, a lawsuit asking the new commissioners for their records and communications prior to and after their election, and now the bill recently introduced in the state legislature (by a state rep who is an executive of our Developer) limiting the amount of impact fees required to be paid by developers.

—All that this sturm and drang regarding the new taxes and their rollback does nothing more than re-open the question of what new infrastructure is necessary and who will pay for it?

—Will there be an arm’s length negotiation between the county commissioners and the Developer on what infrastructure is necessary for the planned commercial development, how much the Developer should pay in the form of impact fees, and how much will become the obligation of all the residents of the county.


—The amount paid in impact fees by the Developer would normally be collected in the form of higher commercial rents. If the cost of the commercial development can be passed on to all county residents in the form of increased property taxes, the Developer can either set rents at a lower level and lease up space more quickly, or keep rents high and increase his profit margins.

—Will the pace of commercial development slow or stop in the southern end of TV? If the Developer refuses to pay for such infrastructure as he has in the past, maybe so. If the increased property taxes are reinstated, the Developer can proceed at the high pace he desires, maintaining or even increasing his profits to the extent he can pass development costs on to residents in the form of property taxes..

The Villages Developer has as acted in a way which benefits his interests as he should. Now the question becomes will the residents of Sumter County require their elected County commissioners to protect resident’s interests? If new commercial development really will benefit the county (in the form of new tax revenues from new businesses as an example), it might be justified to require all county residents to pay for a portion of the construction of the new roads, utilities, and other new commercial infrastructure.

As individuals what we should all make the effort to become aware of needs, plans and costs of continued development in The Villages and decide what’s in it for us? Then we should elect representatives who will represent us and protect our interests. But it all starts with residents taking the time and seeking the sources of information so they can make decisions on who they choose to represent them on the Sumter County Commission.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

C’ mon folks, think about what we read (“fed to us”) in the Daily Sun).

— The newest three County commissioners ARE the result of recalling three that simply voted any way the Developer wanted. Sumter County residents have already recalled commissioners who they felt had not acted in their best interests. Two more will be up for election in 2020.

With regard to the construction and funding of infrastructure for expanding residential and commercial development...

—-In most communities agreements on what infrastructure is needed and to will pay for it is the result of an arms length negotiation between the government and the Developer. The Developer’s obligation is collected by the Country in the form of an Impact Fee. That has not been possible in Sumter County because the commissioners were all essentially the Developer’s appointees, in almost all cases Developer or contractor employees. So the Developer decided what infrastructure was needed and who would pay for it.

—Normally in residential development the Developer pays for the necessary roads, utilities, etc. and then passes the cost on to residents in the form of an increase in the house prices.

—In The Villages the cost of infrastructure in each “village” is paid for with the proceeds of a municipal bond issued by the Developer and sold to investors. Here in TV that bond is divided equally and becomes the obligation of each home buyer, making the selling price of the home look less expensive, but still passing the cost of the infrastructure on the local homeowners who benefit.

—Until recently the cost of infrastructure needed for more extensive roads and commercial projects was paid for by the Developer and paid for with a portion of the rents collected from commercial tenants.

— A couple years ago the Developer and his “appointed” county commissioners came up with a different idea for paying for new infrastructure in the new southern portions of TV. They increased property taxes on ALL residents of Sumter County, even those 10-15 miles away in the northern end of TV who would almost never use the commercial development in the new southern end of TV.

—Sumter County residents expressed their dissatisfaction with a 25% increase in their property taxes by electing three new commissioners in the 2020 general election. Those new commissioners ran on a promise to roll back that tax increase.

—Three three new commissioners acted on their campaign promise and voted to roll back the tax increase. That is what has resulted in reactions which can easily be tracked back to the Developer, including scheduling public hearings at inconvenient locations, filling the parking lots at public hearings with contractor’s vehicles, all the articles published in The Daily Sun describing how the tax rollback will stall development in TV and put lots of people out of work, a lawsuit asking the new commissioners for their records and communications prior to and after their election, and now the bill recently introduced in the state legislature (by a state rep who is an executive of our Developer) limiting the amount of impact fees required to be paid by developers.

—All that this sturm and drang regarding the new taxes and their rollback does nothing more than re-open the question of what new infrastructure is necessary and who will pay for it?

—Will there be an arm’s length negotiation between the county commissioners and the Developer on what infrastructure is necessary for the planned commercial development, how much the Developer should pay in the form of impact fees, and how much will become the obligation of all the residents of the county.


—The amount paid in impact fees by the Developer would normally be collected in the form of higher commercial rents. If the cost of the commercial development can be passed on to all county residents in the form of increased property taxes, the Developer can either set rents at a lower level and lease up space more quickly, or keep rents high and increase his profit margins.

—Will the pace of commercial development slow or stop in the southern end of TV? If the Developer refuses to pay for such infrastructure as he has in the past, maybe so. If the increased property taxes are reinstated, the Developer can proceed at the high pace he desires, maintaining or even increasing his profits to the extent he can pass development costs on to residents in the form of property taxes..

The Villages Developer has as acted in a way which benefits his interests as he should. Now the question becomes will the residents of Sumter County require their elected County commissioners to protect resident’s interests? If new commercial development really will benefit the county (in the form of new tax revenues from new businesses as an example), it might be justified to require all county residents to pay for a portion of the construction of the new roads, utilities, and other new commercial infrastructure.

As individuals what we should all make the effort to become aware of needs, plans and costs of continued development in The Villages and decide what’s in it for us? Then we should elect representatives who will represent us and protect our interests. But it all starts with residents taking the time and seeking the sources of information so they can make decisions on who they choose to represent them on the Sumter County Commission.

Very well said.

[Rsenholzi]

You are totally wrong. The developers impact fees are the lowest in all of Fl, and not by a little. Their impact fees are under $1000 when the next lowest is over $6000! In fact, the report that brings the impact fees up to a little over $2,000 is over 2 years old! They next to raise them to what the report says and then have another study done, so the developer pays the real rate. Our taxes have already gone up 25% for the roads, and now they want to triple the fire rate. What’s next on the list of taxes to be raised ? We are on fixed incomes , and we are absorbing the fees that the developer should be paying for all the new services that are required for the homes they are building. We paid a huge bond for these services already that went to the developer and now they want us to absorb even more