for the DEPARTMENT FUND LINE ITEM DETAIL PROFORMA BUDGET -> https://www.sumtercountyfl.gov/Agend...4?fileID=33701

proposed ad valorem taxes increase by about $23 million
Sheriff expenses up about 9 % to 33 million
election cost about 1 million
page 14 340 operations(new)?? $5 million
look at page 24 to see Tourism expenses

for even better details on expenses (297 pages) look here -> https://www.sumtercountyfl.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/14374?
fileID=33697

as examples
page 179 Villages Fire Dept around 15 million
page 193 Animal Services of $1,135,231
page 218 to see how much is paid to SECO for lighting in CDD 1 through 10

For me, 1 YEARS taxes here is just about 2 MONTHS taxes up in NJ. That includes everything on my bill except for bond (which I really consider taxes whether it actually is or not).

Isn't there some sort of tax increase cap? When we bought this house the previous owner had some sort of cap and he paid 1/3rd of what we are paying. Something like "save our home" discount. Not 100% sure but he paid next to nothing.

Twoplane.....that's enough to blow my mind. It looks to me like the increase has to be mostly in road construction, fire stations, jail, etc. But, without spending many hours studying the numbers it's tough to follow what's happening. The chart on page 8 shows capital projects funds much lower for 2019 than in 2018. But, the "special revenue" category goes up more than enough to offset that. A bit of a shell game there, perhaps. My biggest concern is whether the Villages developer is covering a fair share of the cost of the many new roads and road improvements needed to support the new development.

I would say The Developer is paying what he can get away with.
As would we all!

I would trust a tax increase to be more honest and appropriate than I would a tax decrease.

Thank you for the link! It was interesting reading in multiple aspects...including the fourth town center in Sumter County. Everything costs money!

I have always found that folks who run public owned operations such as town, county, state and most federal have no concept of cost control. The base has increased enough to lower the rate for a few years but the total amount spent has always increased. Now they want the rate of increase to exceed the taxable base increase. If this was run as a business most would be fired. No one looks for ways to reduce cost. They all assume that what was spent the prior year is the starting point and then additional costs are added to that to establish a new budget. Where they should have to start at zero and justify all cost, not just the added cost.

I would want to know how much automation have they added to reduce cost?
How much have they consolidated services and buying supplies?
Have all services been standardized to reduce cost?
Looking at the Seco bill, has all lighting been replaced with LED? Is there a 5 year program to accomplish that?
I know it's heresy to even suggest it, but police and fire costs don't have to increase every year.

My point is that in the business world we would have to look at these things every year and most years budgets would be reduced. In the public services world these things are never considered.

I would say that the old belief that having county maintained roads in the Villages saves Villagers money has been put to rest. We pay for everything we have as it should be.

At the same time the Villages continues to grow, Sumter County will become more a part of the Villages.

As others have said coming from Long Island in 2009 these taxes have been a joke. Even with the proposed increase I'd be paying less here then I was on Long Island in 09. My Fire Tax for a Volunteer Dept. were more in 09 then they are here for a Paid Dept. and our roads were car destroyers. Still a bargain here which was one of our biggest draws moving here. JMO

Sumter county increase in Tax revenue is over 7% from last year according to State finance revenues. Inflation running about 2.5% and they want a 25% increase??...dont think so..live within your means...CUT...CUT....CUT

A twenty-five percent increase in property taxes is way more than any increase I've ever seen before. Could it be a way for the Sumter government to help out Lake and Marion Counties by leveling the property tax playing field (for those who don't know, those counties have significantly higher property taxes than Sumter)? Or is it a major expenditure not yet identified? Or maybe simple mismanagement of the county? Inquiring minds want to know.

???, how do you figure? I would figure the opposite.

Elected officials?????

But did you pay state income tax?

The sooner infrastructure is started on the Southern Oaks Center the better for all.