[shut the front door]

I'm canceling my pool service with T&D. Getting real tired of the blatant buyoff of Rep. Hage.

From the other site:
A lawmaker’s updated bill would make impact fee limits retroactive to Jan. 1.

The change to the bill cosponsored by Rep. Brett Hage, R-The Villages, would seem to paint into a corner a trio of Sumter County Commissioners trying to raise impact fees on builders. Impact fees were a key issue in last year’s elections, when the then-challengers ousted incumbent commissioners over a a 25 percent property tax rate increase in 2019.

The stage is set for a showdown on impact fees when the Sumter County Commission meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Everglades Recreation Center in The Villages.

What do you think should be done about impact fees? Express your thoughts in a Letter to the Editor at news@**************.com

House Bill 377 and Senate Bill 750 would limit impact fee increases by local governments to 3 percent a year. Hage, whose disclosure form showed he’s earning a six-figure salary from The Villages, has been championing the bill. The Villages is vehemently opposed to raising impact fees and has been using the Developer-owned Daily Sun to beat back the proposal and assail the character of Commissioners Craig Estep, Oren Miller and Gary Search, all three of whom are residents of The Villages.

A 3 percent impact fee hike means The Villages would pay about $1,000 for each single-family detached home, up less than $30 from the current rate of $972.

Last month, commissioners voted 4-1 to reject an agreement proposed by The Villages to raise fees by 40 percent to $1,372 per home. The agreement would have allowed the county to raise fees only on The Villages development and not other businesses.

Commissioners said the amount was too low and it was substantially less than the $2,430 per home recommended in a 2019 study.

[tophcfa]

Shameless, but it proves the theory that just about anyone can be bought for the right price.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by shut the front door

I'm canceling my pool service with T&D. Getting real tired of the blatant buyoff of Rep. Hage..

If you do, make sure they know why and as high up as you can go with the info.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

Shameless, but it proves the theory that just about anyone can be bought for the right price.

True.

Been thinking about buying a congressman would be interesting to have one at our beck and call.

Wonder what the going rate is?

[Advogado]

The Developer pays Hage a "salary" of $140,003. What is the difference between that and handing him an envelope, in the middle of the night, containing $140,003 in cash? What does it take to get Sumter County residents to cry out: "Enough of this!"

[shut the front door]

Originally Posted by Advogado

The Developer pays Hage a "salary" of $140,003. What is the difference between that and handing him an envelope, in the middle of the night, containing $140,003 in cash? What does it take to get Sumter County residents to cry out: "Enough of this!"

The developer worshipping cult doesn't care. Fortunately, they are the minority. Which was proven in the election.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

If you do, make sure they know why and as high up as you can go with the info.

By the way, the pool service from T&D has been sold to another entity. Not sure how I feel about that because T&D is absolutely one of the most ethical and best run businesses I have ever encountered, with one brothers part slightly better than the other brothers part. Vera is the most accomplished pool designer anyone could ask for. They are always RIGHT there if you have a question or problem. I am a HUGE fan of the company, T&D.

[Advogado]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

True.

Been thinking about buying a congressman would be interesting to have one at our beck and call.

Wonder what the going rate is?

It looks like the going rate for a state rep might be $140,003 per annum.

[shut the front door]

Originally Posted by Advogado

It looks like the going rate for a state rep might be $140,003 per annum.

Actually, he's pretty expensive. For what the developer pays his puppets, he could pay the stupid impact fees!

A Form 6 Full and Public Disclosure of Financial Interests filed by Hage on May 5, 2020 shows that during 2019, he earned $141,003 from the Holding Company of The Villages located at 3619 Kiessel Road at Brownwood. He also earned $113,554 from T&D Distribution Inc., $14,410 from T&D Concrete Inc. and $11,000 from T&D Supplies Inc. Hage earned $29,697 for serving as a state representative.

[Kahuna32162]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

By the way, the pool service from T&D has been sold to another entity. Not sure how I feel about that because T&D is absolutely one of the most ethical and best run businesses I have ever encountered, with one brothers part slightly better than the other brothers part. Vera is the most accomplished pool designer anyone could ask for. They are always RIGHT there if you have a question or problem. I am a HUGE fan of the company, T&D.

Thanks for the update, did not know that T&D sold off it's service part of the business. That might explain why their service has fallen off severely over the last couple of months. First, our tech of over 7 years is re assigned to a different route, next, they start to miss a week and when they do come, it's a different person each week.

Calling to complain seems to fall on deaf ears. It's too bad because there are other options out there that would be eager to service the 5 pools in our cul de sac.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Advogado

It looks like the going rate for a state rep might be $140,003 per annum.

AT that price wondering how long they stay bought and paid for?

[Dond1959]

What did you expect? You thought the developer and all the businesses who profit from the growth would sit on their hands and take a 150% impact fee increase? The Bill still needs to pass both the house and senate, but given Florida is a pro growth Republican state it will probably pass. The 3 new commissioners refused to negotiate and the businesses here took their issue to the state level.

The developer and the other businesses will not sit around while the 3 commissioners try to drastically change the way business is handled here. It’s like a tennis match, now the ball is back in the commissioners court. Put on the popcorn and watch the match, a real interesting 3 months is coming up.

[New Englander]

Originally Posted by Advogado

The Developer pays Hage a "salary" of $140,003. What is the difference between that and handing him an envelope, in the middle of the night, containing $140,003 in cash? What does it take to get Sumter County residents to cry out: "Enough of this!"

What can we do except don't vote for Hage next election?

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by New Englander

What can we do except don't vote for Hage next election?

He will never get our vote for anything

[banjobob]

Reported a six figure paycheck from the developer does wonders for being objective about a situation.