[Aloha1]

Surprised this hasn't already been posted here. The latest move by the "Gang Of Three" to ignore their own decision to table any tax increase until their July meeting and proceed to increase everyone in Sumter County's taxes smacks of a violation of their fiduciary responsibility.

And why is this happening? Because the State legislature has put a halt to these egregious increases as of July 1st. So our new overlords want to enact their increase on June 30th. Way to go. Just ignore any research or learning and proceed to "kill" without due process.

[golf2140]

I just opened my mail and received a notice that they also was to raise the Fire Protection fee from $125.00 to $360.00 what else are the going to raise?

[Joe V.]

Originally Posted by golf2140

I just opened my mail and received a notice that they also was to raise the Fire Protection fee from $125.00 to $360.00 what else are the going to raise?

Many people's blood pressures.

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by golf2140

I just opened my mail and received a notice that they also was to raise the Fire Protection fee from $125.00 to $360.00 what else are the going to raise?

I don’t have it in front of me, but I think it was a proposal to raise the max allowable to $360, not to immediately raise it.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Aloha1

Surprised this hasn't already been posted here. The latest move by the "Gang Of Three" to ignore their own decision to table any tax increase until their July meeting and proceed to increase everyone in Sumter County's taxes smacks of a violation of their fiduciary responsibility.

And why is this happening? Because the State legislature has put a halt to these egregious increases as of July 1st. So our new overlords want to enact their increase on June 30th. Way to go. Just ignore any research or learning and proceed to "kill" without due process.

"increase everyone in Sumter County's taxes" and "smacks of a violation of their fiduciary responsibility"??? That certainly doesn't sound like the situation with the Impact fees - those are what were moved up from July.

It is questionable whether the State can interfere in local decisions in the way the new bill attempts to do. Taking action now before the State attempts to prevent them from performing their fiduciary responsibilities is the right move.

"ignore any research???" You mean the 2019 study to determine what the impact fees ought to be? It seems like their position is to use that research, not ignore it.

This is a complicated issue which requires serious consideration not knee-jerk accusations.

EDIT: Are you referring to raising the maximum fire protection assessment? As others have already mentioned, this does not raise the assessment, it only raises the maximum allowed assessment; actually raising the assessment itself will come later. And, as I understand it, the bill in the State legislature wouldn't affect this assessment (though I will be looking into that since I might be mistaken)

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by golf2140

I just opened my mail and received a notice that they also was to raise the Fire Protection fee from $125.00 to $360.00 what else are the going to raise?

Please read it again, the key word is allowable

[tvbound]

Recognizing that anyone, can sue anyone else, for just about anything, I'm curious as to what the legal basis would be to successfully sue duly elected officials, who have the ability to establish tax rates? I am also curious as to this July 1 Florida law referenced. Any links to it (I have searched, but can't seem to find it)? Thanks.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by tvbound

Recognizing that anyone, can sue anyone else, for just about anything, I'm curious as to what the legal basis would be to successfully sue duly elected officials, who have the ability to establish tax rates? I am also curious as to this July 1 Florida law referenced. Any links to it (I have searched, but can't seem to find it)? Thanks.

Here is a recent article about the two bills. I haven't looked for a link to the actual bills yet.

EDIT:
HB 337
SB 750

[tvbound]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Here is a recent article about the two bills. I haven't looked for a link to the actual bills yet.

EDIT:
HB 337
SB 750

The developer flexing political muscles?

[Number 10 GI]

How long have some of you been around? Max allowable means that they will raise the taxes to that amount, not today but in the next month or so after things quiet down.

What do these taxes have anything to do with impact fees? I thought these new commissioners were there for the "little people" who were being burdened with the costs for streets in the new areas. They are nothing but tax raising lying politicians.

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Please read it again, the key word is allowable

The key words are “without notice”. Wonder how many will attend the April public hearing.

Originally Posted by tvbound

The developer flexing political muscles?

Definitely. But although I support DeSantis if this bill passes I won’t support him in the future.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by Aloha1

Surprised this hasn't already been posted here. The latest move by the "Gang Of Three" to ignore their own decision to table any tax increase until their July meeting and proceed to increase everyone in Sumter County's taxes smacks of a violation of their fiduciary responsibility.

And why is this happening? Because the State legislature has put a halt to these egregious increases as of July 1st. So our new overlords want to enact their increase on June 30th. Way to go. Just ignore any research or learning and proceed to "kill" without due process.

B.S., they are doing the right thing as the rules of the game were suddenly changed and a gun was put to their head to make a decision under a very tight time line. I applaud them for performing their fiduciary responsibilities by quickly reacting and moving to make a decision before their hands potentially get tied behind their backs.

[Advogado]

Originally Posted by golf2140

I just opened my mail and received a notice that they also was to raise the Fire Protection fee from $125.00 to $360.00 what else are the going to raise?

Did it occur to you that the Developer's impact fee is 0% with regard to fire protection?

[Advogado]

Originally Posted by Aloha1

Surprised this hasn't already been posted here. The latest move by the "Gang Of Three" to ignore their own decision to table any tax increase until their July meeting and proceed to increase everyone in Sumter County's taxes smacks of a violation of their fiduciary responsibility.

And why is this happening? Because the State legislature has put a halt to these egregious increases as of July 1st. So our new overlords want to enact their increase on June 30th. Way to go. Just ignore any research or learning and proceed to "kill" without due process.

Your post is factually challenged, reads like something the Developer would say, and ignores both history and the current facts. You gotta stop believing the nonsense that David R. Corder, the Developer's Minister of Propaganda, is publishing in the Daily Sun.

The History: As a result of the massive 25% property-tax increase, which was enacted by the Developer's puppet Commissioners to protect the Developer's sweetheart impact fee, outraged voters elected your so-called “Gang of Three” (better known as the EMS Team of Estep, Miller, and Search) in a landslide. The EMS Team campaigned on a pledge to roll back the property-tax increase by ending the Developer's sweetheart deal on impact fees.

The Current Facts: Unfortunately, Commissioner Estep made what has turned out to be a serious misstep when he moved to table action until July. Meanwhile, despite his obvious conflict of interest, T&D (a major Developer supplier) employee Bret Hage was quietly pushing, obviously at the direction of the Developer, legislation that would limit any increase in impact fees after July 1 to 3%. This underhanded strategy to protect the Developer's sweetheart deal, at the expense of the residents, has now come to light.

Consequently, Mr. Estep has joined Mr. Miller and Mr. Search to accelerate action in case the proposed legislation, which is opposed by the Florida League of Cities, gets passed. (Contrary to your post, it has not yet passed and if voters wake up to its implications, it will not pass.) In retrospect, it is too bad that the EMS Team didn't act immediately upon taking office in January rather than expecting good-faith negotiations with the Developer.