[Kenswing]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

If you love to golf, play pickleball or do any of the other myriad of activities offered by the Villages then the tax seems to be worth it.

They have shorted the movie lovers a great deal though and probably to make more money.

County taxes have absolutely NOTHING to do with the amenities inside The Villages. And your amenity fee has absolutely NOTHING to do with the movie theaters.

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by LuvtheVillages

The Developer builds terrific schools so that he can attract terrific employees. The schools are only open to children of employees, or businesses inside the Villages.

He built them with his own money. BUT the school district pays to lease the buildings. And, larger schools require more staff. Thus, the increase in the school tax.

No, the Villages School is a charter school, operated as a 501c3 not profit.

How does the school get funding? From the Fla DOE web site

“Charter schools are funded through the Florida Education Finance Program in the same way as all other public schools in the school district. The charter school receives operating funds from the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) based on the number of full-time (FTE) students enrolled.

Charter school funding includes gross state and local funds, discretionary lottery funds, and funds from the school district's current operating discretionary millage levy; divided by the total funded weighted full-time equivalent (FTE) students in the school district; multiplied by the weighted FTE students in the charter school. Charter schools are entitled to their proportionate share of categorical program funds, for eligible students and programs.

Charter schools may also access federal funds through a competitive grant process that awards funds to charter schools for the following purposes:

Planning and Implementation - the Florida Department of Education administers the Charter Schools Program (CSP) Planning and Implementation grant through a request for proposals (RFP) process each year. The general purpose of this grant is to provide financial assistance for the planning, program design, and initial implementation of charter schools and expand the number of high quality charter schools in Florida.
Dissemination - This competitive grant aids successful charter schools in the dissemination of best practices and other information about charter schools. Charter schools in operation for at least three years who have not previously received a dissemination grant may be eligible to apply. Additional eligibility criteria may be established by the Department and may vary with each application cycle.
Virtual charter schools are funded in accordance with s. 1002.45(7), F.S.”

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

No, the Villages School is a charter school, operated as a 501c3 not profit.

How does the school get funding? From the Fla DOE web site

...

But none of those funds cover the cost of BUILDING the school. The Holding Company of the Villages, LLC chose to build the schools. They paid for the construction, architecture, layout, grounds, landscaping, etc. etc. The funding from the state and federal government covers the cost of educating the students after the building has already been built.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

But none of those funds cover the cost of BUILDING the school. The Holding Company of the Villages, LLC chose to build the schools. They paid for the construction, architecture, layout, grounds, landscaping, etc. etc. The funding from the state and federal government covers the cost of educating the students after the building has already been built.

The cost of building the school is an investment that will get paid back over time, most likely with a decent rate of return, by lease payments made on the facility’s. The money needed to make those lease payments represents the huge increase in Sumter county homeowners latest school tax assessment.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by LuvtheVillages

The Developer builds terrific schools so that he can attract terrific employees. The schools are only open to children of employees, or businesses inside the Villages.

He built them with his own money. BUT the school district pays to lease the buildings. And, larger schools require more staff. Thus, the increase in the school tax.

Originally Posted by tophcfa

The cost of building the school is an investment that will get paid back over time, most likely with a decent rate of return, by lease payments made on the facility’s. The money needed to make those lease payments represents the huge increase in Sumter county homeowners latest school tax assessment.

According to the school board budget documents available online, they are spending about $15M more this year than last year (a 16% increase). Of that $15M the charter schools will receive about $6M.

[LuvtheVillages]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

No, the Villages School is a charter school, operated as a 501c3 not profit.

How does the school get funding? From the Fla DOE web site

“
Charter school funding includes gross state and local funds, discretionary lottery funds, and funds from the school district's current operating discretionary millage levy; divided by the total funded weighted full-time equivalent (FTE) students in the school district; multiplied by the weighted FTE students in the charter school. Charter schools are entitled to their proportionate share of categorical program funds, for eligible students and programs.

Virtual charter schools are funded in accordance with s. 1002.45(7), F.S.”

You quoted it yourself: “ funds from the school district’s current operating discretionary millage levy…”

[Spartan86]

Good description of the program, eligibility and portability.

Save our homes

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by LuvtheVillages

You quoted it yourself: “ funds from the school district’s current operating discretionary millage levy…”

But either the child gets an education at the local public school or at the charter school - dollars follow the student.
If there are more students, then there’s more of a tax base.

OP suggested school district pays rent to Charter School. Dollars flow from school district to charter school, but it flows based on the student.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

But either the child gets an education at the local public school or at the charter school - dollars follow the student.
If there are more students, then there’s more of a tax base.

OP suggested school district pays rent to Charter School. Dollars flow from school district to charter school, but it flows based on the student.

There is a line in the school board budget labeled “Rentals” with a comment that it is for Charter School Lease. Apparently the school board also believes they pay to rent the school.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Kenswing

County taxes have absolutely NOTHING to do with the amenities inside The Villages. And your amenity fee has absolutely NOTHING to do with the movie theaters.

Location, location, location. The Villages plays a huge role in Sumter County. It has an impact on the traffic on the roads, the numbers of students in the schools of all kinds, and in many other areas. Prices and values of the homes in Sumter County.

The Villages sold their lifestyle for the period from about 2005 through 2022 as having three operating movie theaters. It was on their site just a few months ago as having three movie theaters.

[Kenswing]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Location, location, location. The Villages plays a huge role in Sumter County. It has an impact on the traffic on the roads, the numbers of students in the schools of all kinds, and in many other areas. Prices and values of the homes in Sumter County.

The Villages sold their lifestyle for the period from about 2005 through 2022 as having three operating movie theaters. It was on their site just a few months ago as having three movie theaters.

I know the theaters mean a lot to you. But they have NOTHING to do with your county taxes.

[Normal]

Not everyone pays city taxes. We pay Wildwood a hefty 1,300 a year. I’m wondering if the loophole for the Villages north of 44 in Sumter County will be covered? There is a huge lapse for taxes in that area. The potential could do a lot for the county as a whole.

[LuvtheVillages]

Originally Posted by Normal

Not everyone pays city taxes. We pay Wildwood a hefty 1,300 a year. I’m wondering if the loophole for the Villages north of 44 in Sumter County will be covered? There is a huge lapse for taxes in that area. The potential could do a lot for the county as a whole.

Some Villages north of 44 are in the City of Fruitland Park, some are in the City of Lady Lake. Some future areas will be in the City of Leesburg.

There are not and will not be any change in status for the unincorporated areas in Sumter County. To do that would require a petition from the landowners. I can't imagine anyone would volunteer to pay more taxes.

Wildwood government used to be anti- Villages. That's why the
Trailwinds and Beaumont areas were not developed into new Villages. After that proposal was turned down by Wildwood, suddenly they changed their attitude and started to welcome the Developer. I remember a newspaper article that quoted a Wildwood commissioner gleefully saying that lots of money would come into their budget and all they had to do was slit open the envelopes.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Normal

Not everyone pays city taxes. We pay Wildwood a hefty 1,300 a year. I’m wondering if the loophole for the Villages north of 44 in Sumter County will be covered? There is a huge lapse for taxes in that area. The potential could do a lot for the county as a whole.

Why do you think an additional tax on the Villagers, paid to the city of Wildwood, would do anything at all for the county?

And, as pointed out above, it is not a loophole.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Normal

Not everyone pays city taxes. We pay Wildwood a hefty 1,300 a year. I’m wondering if the loophole for the Villages north of 44 in Sumter County will be covered? There is a huge lapse for taxes in that area. The potential could do a lot for the county as a whole.

If you think getting short changed move to Marion county. They know how to tax!