[village dreamer]

Wow, my bill will be $323 per year. Nobody talked money when this was going on. Everything was hush hush. All that for fast ambulance service for $323 a year. I'll take a taxi to the hospital, probably be a lot cheaper....and faster.

[tophcfa]

This whole thing has me scratching my head? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not at all against increasing my taxes to improve first response time under the right circumstances, but not the way this was done. First off, it’s not fair to ask taxpayers to vote for anything so ambiguous, basically asking them to approve writing a blank check at their expense. People rightfully expect transparency when being asked to vote for something that effects their finances. If the powers that be could not adequately communicate to voters what they were voting on, then something is either broken or being rushed through way to fast. The vote should have been delayed until they got their act together and could ask the voters to approve something that could be explained with full transparency. Secondly, what’s the point of improving first response time when the patient is just going to get dumped at a one star rated hospital that provides woefully inadequate healthcare? Let’s get there quicker, so we can hurry up and wait for nothing! Based on my unfortunate experience at The Village’s Hospital ER, I would rather get dumped in Lake Sumter next to a couple starving 14 foot alligators than the ER in the Villages. At least my pain and suffering would end quickly.

On the other hand, if a plan was put together, with clear and transparent details, that outlined a way to get Villagers in need quickly to a good hospital, such as the institutions in Gainesville, I would definitively strongly consider supporting it.

On a final note, I want to give a strong shout out of support and thanks to the many Village’s residents who make the neighborhood defibrillator program work. Now there is something that can save lives.

[DARFAP]

The wording in the notification received says the $324 is the maximum increase for FY23-24 and is the maximum that can be imposed without further notice in future FYs.

[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by DARFAP

The wording in the notification received says the $324 is the maximum increase for FY23-24 and is the maximum that can be imposed without further notice in future FYs.

That is customary wording, what it means is that the rate will be set at the maximum approved rate. If it were needed to be raised in the future it will have to be approved at a public hearing as what is happening on the 22nd. If the maximum rate were to be set above the required funding rate (say $400 and similar higher rates for commercial properties) then the following year(s) the rates could be raised if necessary to any level up to the maximum approved rates without additional public hearings being held.

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by txfan

It hasn't been increased in 17 yrs.

If it had been incrementally raised ~$11/yr, would anyone be up in arms about an outrageous increase to provide an any moment life or death service?

Good point in your 1st line

[Bill14564]

Reports are the BoCC voted 3-2 not to accept the proposal to raise the fire impact fee to 323.64 and change the way it was assessed on commercial properties. This takes about $25M out of the county budget and if not replaced, will mean $12.5M decrease to both VPSD and SCFEMS. So what happens now?

Possibility 1: Increase property taxes 25% to make up the $25M. To anyone with a taxable value over $150,000 this would result in you paying more than if the $323.64 passed. NOTE: This option may not be available to the BoCC. Since this would be a tax increase it may trigger a requirement for public notice and a public hearing. There might not be enough time left to have the hearing and have the budget in place by October.

Possibility 2: Underfund the departments by $12.5M each. This is over 25% of the VPSD budget and nearly 50% of the SCFEMS budget. What could possibly go wrong?

Possibility 3 (Unlikely): With something like 75% of the homes in the county within the boundaries of the Villages, they *could* split the $10M remaining after the cuts 75/25 and cut the VPSD by only $10M rather than $12.5M. This seems unlikely since it means a new way of allocating the fees and would cut SCFEMS even more.

Possibility 4: Lessen the impact to the departments by reducing other items in the budget. $25M comes out of the entire budget but not all out of the VPSD and SCFEMS lines.

My guess: Share the pain. Increase taxes but not by 25% - an historically dangerous number with an election coming up. Reduce VPSD and SCFEMS funding but not by the entire $25M - after all, do we really need the best service with the best ratings? And, reduce other items in the county budget - there a lot of lines to look at.

In my mind we are now zero for two on the fire department issue. We should have voted for the IFD rather than following those that admitted they were arguing against it only because they didn't understand it. We should have encouraged the BoCC to vote for this $200 increase so the departments could be fully funded without raising our taxes. Neither happened. Now we *need* to be concerned with the future of the VPSD.

There is a lot of expense in paying for the management of two services; millions of dollars could be saved if VPSD and SCFEMS were combined under one chain. There is a lot of expense in outfitting two separate services. There are eight stations in our small corner of the county and only eight (?) more covering the rest of county; some amount could be saved by combining the two and sharing the equipment. There is a lot of "us vs. them" sentiment in the county, particularly over roads and fire protection. Combining the two services would go a long way towards soothing that sentiment. There would be considerable savings and improved goodwill if the two services were combined. We *need* to be concerned with the future of the VPSD.

I want to keep the VPSD while also keeping my taxes low. I am concerned that is not the direction we are heading.

[kingofbeer]

The business owners such as medium-sized business owners T&D Concrete opposed this. They would have paid their fair share. My understanding is that under the present system, business owners pay the same amount as a homeowners do. I think this is unfair and should be changed. Basing it on the square footage of the business seems to be right. T&D was mad, because he has over 10,000 feet of square footage.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by kingofbeer

The business owners such as medium-sized business owners T&D Concrete opposed this. They would have paid their fair share. My understanding is that under the present system, business owners pay the same amount as a homeowners do. I think this is unfair and should be changed. Basing it on the square footage of the business seems to be right. T&D was mad, because he has over 10,000 feet of square footage.

Sun keeps talking about percentage increase for business never giving the dollar amount.

One person quoted will have to give up their home as they cannot afford a $ 200 increase.

Guess their editor has no clue that opinions belong in the editorial page.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by kingofbeer

The business owners such as medium-sized business owners T&D Concrete opposed this. They would have paid their fair share. My understanding is that under the present system, business owners pay the same amount as a homeowners do. I think this is unfair and should be changed. Basing it on the square footage of the business seems to be right. T&D was mad, because he has over 10,000 feet of square footage.

As I understand it, you are correct. It is possible that the Lofts at Brownwood, in their entirety, pay $124 for fire protection because they represent one property. The same for the Grand Traverse shopping center - one property, one $124 fee. I don't know that $0.53 per sqft was fair (I pay much less than that) but it was a start.

In the end, that ship has sailed. No IFD, no new fee structure, just a $25M hole to fill.

[kingofbeer]

That is outrageous and unfair to homeowners.

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Reports are the BoCC voted 3-2 not to accept the proposal to raise the fire impact fee to 323.64 and change the way it was assessed on commercial properties. This takes about $25M out of the county budget and if not replaced, will mean $12.5M decrease to both VPSD and SCFEMS. So what happens now?

Possibility 1: Increase property taxes 25% to make up the $25M. To anyone with a taxable value over $150,000 this would result in you paying more than if the $323.64 passed.

Possibility 2: Underfund the departments by $12.5M each. This is over 25% of the VPSD budget and nearly 50% of the SCFEMS budget. What could possibly go wrong?

Possibility 3 (Unlikely): With something like 75% of the homes in the county within the boundaries of the Villages, they *could* split the $10M remaining after the cuts 75/25 and cut the VPSD by only $10M rather than $12.5M. This seems unlikely since it means a new way of allocating the fees and would cut SCFEMS even more.

Possibility 4: Lessen the impact to the departments by reducing other items in the budget. $25M comes out of the entire budget but not all out of the VPSD and SCFEMS lines.

My guess: Share the pain. Increase taxes but not by 25% - an historically dangerous number with an election coming up. Reduce VPSD and SCFEMS funding but not by the entire $25M - after all, do we really need the best service with the best ratings? And, reduce other items in the county budget - there a lot of lines to look at.

In my mind we are now zero for two on the fire department issue. We should have voted for the IFD rather than following those that admitted they were arguing against it only because they didn't understand it. We should have encouraged the BoCC to vote for this $200 increase so the departments could be fully funded without raising our taxes. Neither happened. Now we *need* to be concerned with the future of the VPSD.

There is a lot of expense in paying for the management of two services; millions of dollars could be saved if VPSD and SCFEMS were combined under one chain. There is a lot of expense in outfitting two separate services. There are eight stations in our small corner of the county and only eight (?) more covering the rest of county; some amount could be saved by combining the two and sharing the equipment. There is a lot of "us vs. them" sentiment in the county, particularly over roads and fire protection. Combining the two services would go a long way towards soothing that sentiment. There would be considerable savings and improved goodwill if the two services were combined. We *need* to be concerned with the future of the VPSD.

I want to keep the VPSD while also keeping my taxes low. I am concerned that is not the direction we are heading.

Why does the Fire Department have a special assessment? Is there a special assessment for police, schools, libraries, roads, recreation, etc.?

I would think that the Fire Department is an essential service and should come out of the general budget and not be based on a special assessment.

The Sumter County Fire Chief said that this will result in a $12 million shortfall in a $24 million budget and the he will have to lay off 30 firefighters and abandon plans to hire 27 more employees. If we just had the revenue from last year ($124 per house), it doesn't seem like costs have gone up that much that we have to have such drastic measures.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

Why does the Fire Department have a special assessment? Is there a special assessment for police, schools, libraries, roads, recreation, etc.?

I would think that the Fire Department is an essential service and should come out of the general budget and not be based on a special assessment.

The Sumter County Fire Chief said that this will result in a $12 million shortfall in a $24 million budget and the he will have to lay off 30 firefighters and abandon plans to hire 27 more employees. If we just had the revenue from last year ($124 per house), it doesn't seem like costs have gone up that much that we have to have such drastic measures.

The schools have taxing authority. There is a separate line on your yearly bill for school tax. The others, I don't know.

Sure, take the money out of the general fund. That's my Possibility 1 above.

We all paid much more than $124 for fire protection last year. $124 was the assessment (and it turns out the assessment was way too low) but the amount transferred from the general fund to VPSD and the amount spent by SCFEMS was much greater than what the $124 brought in.

Costs have gone up. As more stations are added in the VPSD, more employees need to be hired. Wages have increased. Inflation has increased costs across the board. The VPSD pays management fees to the District and those have gone up. It looks like the VPSD budget increased by about 30% and the SCFEMS budget increased by about 50% over last year.

The VPSD budget is part of the VCCDD budget and can be found on the districtgov.org page. The SCFEMS budget is part of the Sumter County budget and can be found on the county webpage.

[LuvtheVillages]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

I would think that the Fire Department is an essential service and should come out of the general budget and not be based on a special assessment.

The Sumter County Fire Chief said that this will result in a $12 million shortfall in a $24 million budget and the he will have to lay off 30 firefighters and abandon plans to hire 27 more employees. If we just had the revenue from last year ($124 per house), it doesn't seem like costs have gone up that much that we have to have such drastic measures.

Yes, fire dept costs have gone up a lot:
1. MANY more houses in the south end of The Villages.
2. New fire stations built in the south of TV to serve those houses
3. New this year and affecting both departments, fire department is now responsible for ambulance services.

The businesses paying $124 for their large properties was a sweetheart deal that they have enjoyed for too long. I regret that the BOCC was not able to stand up for the homeowners who elected them.

Does anyone know the names of the Commissioners who voted against this? I would like to remember them at the next election.

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by LuvtheVillages

Yes, fire dept costs have gone up a lot:
1. MANY more houses in the south end of The Villages.
2. New fire stations built in the south of TV to serve those houses
3. New this year and affecting both departments, fire department is now responsible for ambulance services.

The businesses paying $124 for their large properties was a sweetheart deal that they have enjoyed for too long. I regret that the BOCC was not able to stand up for the homeowners who elected them.

Does anyone know the names of the Commissioners who voted against this? I would like to remember them at the next election.

Commissioner Don Wiley, Commissioner Roberta Ulrich, and Commissioner Andrew Bilardello opposed it.



County Chairman Craig Estep and Commissioner Jeffrey Bogue voted for the increase.

[twoplanekid]

According to my 2023 trim notice that I received from Sumter county, my taxes would be $100 less than 2022 if no budget change is made or $100 more than my 2022 taxes if proposed budget change is made. This change either way is still much less that the increases in water rates that are/will take place in the NSCUDD's CSU operations area.