[Cisco Kid]

Originally Posted by Bill-n-Brillo

Sell your place - that'll fix it!



Bill

That the 5 year plan, down size.
Maybe rent for a few years.
Then make the move to TV

[Cisco Kid]

The love reading about " The Family " on here.
If I ever see " The family " do I have to look down, or cross over to the other side of the street.
Where can I contact "The Family"
I would like to ask the to come up here and run Illinois for awhile.
We are FUBAR

[cquick]

I would think a portion of the amenity fees paid monthly by the residents of The Villages would be enough to cover the entertainment. After all, it's a big part of the advertising for new residents by the developer.....this is not a flame I promise!

[JeffAVEWS]

Originally Posted by mickey100

I'm not sure the number of visitors/taxes generated would be much different without the entertainment. But not for us to decide. Hopefully the legislators will spend the money in a way that is best for the majority of their constituents.

If Haagen Dazs only sells 100 ice cream cones at $4 a pop it's $10,220 in tax revenue a year! Ok, the State gets most of it, but the county gets it share. How many drinks do you suppose are sold around the square while there is entertainment? This is seed money for the county, they will do very well on the investment.

[OldDave]

This agreement is between Sumter County and The Villages (the contractor). There is no mention of some third party that has purchased the entertainment. Now perhaps the Villages has made an arrangement by which the third party coordinates all the entertainment, but if TV didn't own this, they could not enter into an agreement with the county for this grant.

Also, to the suggestion that this grant will somehow lower your taxes. If you believe that, I have some swamp land I'd like to sell you.

There is no way you will find your assessments from the Villages going down over something this tiny in the budget. AND since you're a tax payer in Sumter County (if you are) then your taxes will actually go up to help pay for this, along with the few other people living in the county, but not TV.

Do I think this is a bad thing? No. Clearly a huge number of people enjoy this service, and it seems in large part to help create the lifestyle that is TV. Probably not something I'm going to use very often, but still pretty cool. This should help spread the cost around which will make it more likely to last, but the only money savings will be for the developer who will now have help paying for it.

[Bonny]

It works for me.

[billethkid]

relative to who owns the entertainment it IS the Vescos. They purchased it from the developer.

While I do not know, I suspect their is an ability in their agreement how to use "TV" in their advertising, applications, et al.

Correct, there is no third party...the Vescos and the County = 2.

btk

[Patty55]

Originally Posted by Cisco Kid

The love reading about " The Family " on here.
If I ever see " The family " do I have to look down, or cross over to the other side of the street.
Where can I contact "The Family"
I would like to ask the to come up here and run Illinois for awhile.
We are FUBAR

I saw "THE FAMILY" a few days ago at the Colony Publix, they appear very normal. (Aside from having to kneel and kiss their rings)

[OldDave]

Hey, I have no dog in this fight, and really don't care. But if you look at the links below someone provided, everything mentioned is in the name of The Villages. Just pointing that out. What it means, I don't know.

[Grannynance]

So who has who in their hip pocket? Just a few months ago on this site people were afraid that outsiders would over take brown wood and that there would be a lot of so called bad people roaming the streets. Well it seems that some of the tax money that will be spent will come from all residents of Sumter not only the villages . To say that buioder is a wise man is more than correct his aim is to make money and get any way he can. Like build a road and then have someone maintain it for ever, in the long run who puts out the most money. Take the two large signs on 44 are they their so the village residents know where to shop, eat, and dance? Do you think he is worried about food stores or selling more houses? Some day the family will be gone (if you could find them now) then what? Just my two cents thoughts

[ilovetv]

The live music and dancing is the lifeblood of retail, bar-restaurant, and market-night kiosk businesses around the three town squares.

Don't you remember what has happened to almost all downtowns in the USA when there is no retail left or if they close at 5:00, and if you go to one of the few thriving bar-restaurants in the ghost-town downtown, you feel like you need a Brinks truck and guards to deposit you directly into the front door so you don't have to walk in crime-infested parking decks and lots?

If not for the live music and dancing every night, I'm pretty sure that the stores and restaurants would be closed after 4:00 p.m. Translation: Geriatric Estates, Florida.

I think it's reasonable to expect that at some point, retailers/restaurant associations would form to carry on the tradition that launched TV town squares into being three true, hometown downtowns where you can go safely any time you want, from sun-up till midnight.

[blueash]

I may have bad information, but I have been told that the developer collects a percentage of all sales in the squares. If we are talking 10% and we assume that on an average night there is 2000 dollars spent per square or 5 dollars spent by 400 people as a result of increased traffic from the entertainment which is likely a low estimate, he makes 200/day extra. I don't know how the alcohol sales, and the market night sales figure in that. With two squares in Sumter county that is 400/d times 350 with some days cancelled thus about 140,000 in additional income. If my numbers are off, or way off, make whatever adjustments are needed but it seems that he profits from the extra traffic. This does not take into account the marketing value or the rental of stores value. If you have any question as to whether entertainment increases the shopper traffic in the squares, just compare the crowds daytime vs evening. Looking at the Sumter county website, it seems the Tourist Council gets its money from the 2% tax on rentals/hotels. It then spends its money 40% for event grants and 60% for capital improvements. According the Council's online grant application the amount available is determined by the number of beds which are occupied as a result of the activity. http://sumtercountyfl.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DID=1844

Interestingly the language of the rules says the money from the county must be matched 50/50 by the grantee. And the grantee must be a non-profit. However this contract has the county providing 60K while the Vescos are providing 50K. It would be interesting to see the application and the reports which are required from the grantee showing how they spent the money. I have emailed the country asking where those documents can be seen online. So the money is coming from the occupancy tax not the homeowner.
While there may be more legalese somewhere, it is not clear how the Villages qualifies as a non-profit nor why the 50/50 rule was not enforced.

[jbdlfan]

I too, have no dog in this fight, living in Marion County, but if I still lived in Sumter County and did not live in The Villages, I would have a serious problem supplementing activities in and around The Villages. The folks in Lake Pan, Bushnell, Webster and other parts of South Sumter won't see any benefit from this. As a matter of fact, many locals that have been born and raised here, carry a deep resentment for the way their county has been changed. Don't care too much, just saying......

[batman911]

We will all pay regardless of which funds are used. If the vendors pay, they will raise prices to cover the cost. If the developer pays, the cost of homes will be raised to cover the cost. There is no free ride.

[ilovetv]

Originally Posted by jbdlfan

I too, have no dog in this fight, living in Marion County, but if I still lived in Sumter County and did not live in The Villages, I would have a serious problem supplementing activities in and around The Villages. The folks in Lake Pan, Bushnell, Webster and other parts of South Sumter won't see any benefit from this. As a matter of fact, many locals that have been born and raised here, carry a deep resentment for the way their county has been changed. Don't care too much, just saying......

Doesn't everyone in the county benefit from the increased sales tax collected when the retailers and bar-restaurants are open, operating and thriving 7 nights per week?.....

.....And when people come into town specifically to see a movie or have dinner, the free live entertainment and retailers open gives them reason to stay and spend more on drinks and shopping, instead of just going home??