[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by HoosierPa

Here is the way I remember it. …………

25% tax increase

Miller, Search, Estep elected

Miller, Search demanded 75% increase in impact fees

Developer offered compromise of 40% increase in impact fees

Miller, Search would not accept that as a win and over-reached

End result was ZERO impact fee increase

Miller, Search thrown out of office for violating Sunshine Law and then perjury

Ulrich and other BOCC reduced Sumter County taxes by about 9%

…….and the drama continues as we get ready for another election.

Close but.....

Developer offered compromise of 40% increase in impact fees ... but only on houses built within the Villages. No increase for fast food stores, gas stations, golf courses, banks, hotels, or any of the other 64 types of construction in the fee schedule. Essentially, no increase at all.


Miller, Search thrown out of office for violating Sunshine Law and then perjury... Nope. Accused of violating Sunshine Law and then indicted for perjury based on statements made during the investigation. Suspended and replaced due to indictment alone, still no trial and certainly no conviction.

Ulrich and other BOCC reduced Sumter County taxes by about 9%... Absolutely not! Housing market boomed, prices went up, appraisals went up, and a new millage rate was calculated to have a ZERO CHANGE ON TAXES. BoCC is being given credit (and Ulrich is taking credit) for something caused by inflation, they propose to do absolutely nothing on taxes.

Interesting note: The last time the BoCC adjusted the millage rate to actually lower what you pay was in the 21-22 budget put together by Miller and Search.

[crash]

Originally Posted by Footer

In the August 2 Daily Sun on page A9 toward the end of the article it mentions that Ulrich reduced the property tax rate 9.1%, the largest rate cut in years. This was contrasted to the "Search-Miller 25% increase".

I thought Search and Miller were elected in response to the increase by the other commissioners. Am I remembering incorrectly? Getting old so wouldn't be the first time.

You are correct this is the developer paper spinning a story to get their candidate elected. The 9.1% cut comes them not funding the Villages fire dept because they assume the special district will pass and they won’t have to do it anymore. Only 30% of the county gets the tax cut 70% will get a new tax to fund the fire dept.

[LucyP]

Originally Posted by Footer

In the August 2 Daily Sun on page A9 toward the end of the article it mentions that Ulrich reduced the property tax rate 9.1%, the largest rate cut in years. This was contrasted to the "Search-Miller 25% increase".

I thought Search and Miller were elected in response to the increase by the other commissioners. Am I remembering incorrectly? Getting old so wouldn't be the first time.

Yes right. The paper does not give all information needed in subject. They are one sided.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by NoMo50

That is true of any newspaper, not just the Daily Sun.

Sorry but the Sun is about as one sided as you can possibly get. Never seen anything like this before

[FredJacobs]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

The developer owns the paper and then tells them what to write. They will always favor the commissioners the developer wants in office.

You need to find information from an independent site

If my memory is correct, the developer sold the Daily Sun about 7-8 years ago. However, to keep control over the contents, he/they only sold the publication and kept ownership of the presses.

[CosmicTrucker]

Originally Posted by FredJacobs

If my memory is correct, the developer sold the Daily Sun about 7-8 years ago. However, to keep control over the contents, he/they only sold the publication and kept ownership of the presses.

Sorry, that doesn't make any sense.

[jammaiora]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

You are correct.
But in politics.
Deny! Deny! Deny!
The winners always get to write history!

You can't believe what the Daily Sun prints. It's all propaganda for their chosen candidates for Commissioners. They are a joke. Only good section is the Sports. Stopped subscribing years ago. Nothing wrong with your memory on this issue!

[larcha]

Originally Posted by Dond1959

What the article actually stated was Search Miller increased the Budget by 25% (true) while the current commissioners increased the budget by 2 to 3% and decreased the milage rate by 9%.

Because of the way property taxes work in Florida, i.e. the "Rollback" rate, taxing authorities can claim to reduce taxes while in fact increasing total tax receipts. I am reminded of a book I read once, "How To Lie With statistics".

[Travelhunter123]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Close but.....

Developer offered compromise of 40% increase in impact fees ... but only on houses built within the Villages. No increase for fast food stores, gas stations, golf courses, banks, hotels, or any of the other 64 types of construction in the fee schedule. Essentially, no increase at all.


Miller, Search thrown out of office for violating Sunshine Law and then perjury... Nope. Accused of violating Sunshine Law and then indicted for perjury based on statements made during the investigation. Suspended and replaced due to indictment alone, still no trial and certainly no conviction.

Ulrich and other BOCC reduced Sumter County taxes by about 9%... Absolutely not! Housing market boomed, prices went up, appraisals went up, and a new millage rate was calculated to have a ZERO CHANGE ON TAXES. BoCC is being given credit (and Ulrich is taking credit) for something caused by inflation, they propose to do absolutely nothing on taxes.

Interesting note: The last time the BoCC adjusted the millage rate to actually lower what you pay was in the 21-22 budget put together by Miller and Search.

Thank you for clarifying all this. It seems like such a mess

[ElDiabloJoe]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

... Realize that what you read about local politics in the Daily Sun is always twisted to support the agenda of the newspaper’s owners.

Remind me, who owns the Washington Post?

[Rainger99]

After reading these posts, I am even more confused. Millage rates, appraisal rates, 25% increase; 9.1% decrease, etc.

I moved here last year so I don't have any experience with taxes over the past five years. Can someone tell me what has happened to their total taxes over the past five years?

For example what were you paying in 2017? Was it $4000?

What happened in 2018? Did your taxes go up, down, or stay the same?

Same questions for 2019, 2020, and 2021. Thanks.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by FredJacobs

If my memory is correct, the developer sold the Daily Sun about 7-8 years ago. However, to keep control over the contents, he/they only sold the publication and kept ownership of the presses.

Memory or updated rumors?

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

After reading these posts, I am even more confused. Millage rates, appraisal rates, 25% increase; 9.1% decrease, etc.

I moved here last year so I don't have any experience with taxes over the past five years. Can someone tell me what has happened to their total taxes over the past five years?

For example what were you paying in 2017? Was it $4000?

What happened in 2018? Did your taxes go up, down, or stay the same?

Same questions for 2019, 2020, and 2021. Thanks.

Don’t worry it doesn’t make any difference as to when you are seated at your favorite restaurant.������

[justjim]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Still a great place to live

I agree. The Villages is a great place to live. Reminds me a bit where I grew up in a coal mining town where the mine owners owned everything including the company store. We had it all (for that day and time) swimming pool, skating ring, bowling alley, theater, shopping, local newspaper, best schools in the county etc. etc. Coal was king and most people were content and happy just about like in The Villages. The mine owners made the big dollars and the hard working miners were occasionally thrown a bone. Isn’t this a great country or what?

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

After reading these posts, I am even more confused. Millage rates, appraisal rates, 25% increase; 9.1% decrease, etc.

I moved here last year so I don't have any experience with taxes over the past five years. Can someone tell me what has happened to their total taxes over the past five years?

For example what were you paying in 2017? Was it $4000?

What happened in 2018? Did your taxes go up, down, or stay the same?

Same questions for 2019, 2020, and 2021. Thanks.

I just went online and checked some records. The following are for two houses with taxes rounded off to the nearest $100.

Designer Home (about 2000 sq. feet) built in 2015
2017 $3300
2018 $3200
2019 $4000
2020 $3900
2021 $3900

Patio Villa (about 1200 sq. feet) built in 2013
2017 $2900
2018 $2800
2019 $3200
2020 $3200
2021 $3100