[nanance]

1) The Sumter County sheriff is asking for 18 new deputies in the next two years - how many deputies does the county now employ? 180 - which would be a 10% increase...90 currently would mean a 50% increase..???

2) Will all 18 of these be assigned to the area located within The Villages? If so, would that mean a person living in Bushnell will be paying for all these additional salaries or is there a separate county fee assessed to Village residents that will cover the cost of these new hires? What is the total number of positions Sheriff Farmer is asking for? How many support staff will need to be added in addition to the 18 deputies?

3) I was under the impression that a CDD is not able to have an armed police force. Is Buttonwood part of The Villages or is it part of Wildwood? If it is part of The Villages and is built on land owned by the developer, how can there be a Wildwood Police Station located in Brownwood?

4) Has there been a noticable increase in reported crime that makes this necessary? How serious is our safety issue as our size grows?

I don't have the answers to many of your questions, they may be best addressed directly to Sumter County. Sumter County is quite large and includes many towns, including Wildwood. Part of The Villages, including the Brownwood town square are located in Sumter County and law enforcement is present throughout our community. The Villages District government does not employ armed law enforcement. Community Watch is a patrol and report organization and is not armed. The hiring of 18 new sheriffs may have nothing to do with us and can be stationed throughout the county. My best guess is that they are budgeted with the property taxes of all homeowners within the county.

[l2ridehd]

They have to find some way to spend all our tax $$$$ Heaven forbid they should try to manage cost and lower taxes. They have extra money and they are going to find a way to spend it.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

They have to find some way to spend all our tax $$$$ Heaven forbid they should try to manage cost and lower taxes. They have extra money and they are going to find a way to spend it.

I think I am reading a fiscal conservative.

And that ain't bad.

[kittygilchrist]

Originally Posted by nanance

1) The Sumter County sheriff is asking for 18 new deputies in the next two years - how many deputies does the county now employ? 180 - which would be a 10% increase...90 currently would mean a 50% increase..???

2) Will all 18 of these be assigned to the area located within The Villages? If so, would that mean a person living in Bushnell will be paying for all these additional salaries or is there a separate county fee assessed to Village residents that will cover the cost of these new hires? What is the total number of positions Sheriff Farmer is asking for? How many support staff will need to be added in addition to the 18 deputies?

3) I was under the impression that a CDD is not able to have an armed police force. Is Buttonwood part of The Villages or is it part of Wildwood? If it is part of The Villages and is built on land owned by the developer, how can there be a Wildwood Police Station located in Brownwood?

4) Has there been a noticable increase in reported crime that makes this necessary? How serious is our safety issue as our size grows?

If you want answers and not just to vent (which is ok, we all do it), I suggest you contact the Sumter Sheriff's Office instead of Villagers. Not sure why you are asking questions here as if any of us know. We don't. So go ask Sumter County and let us know if you would like to.

[kittygilchrist]

I do know this much, Brownwood is in the City of Wildwood. yes it is.

[njbchbum]

nanance -

Sheriff's Office wants to increase its deputies for The Villages - Daily Commercial: News

that's an article i posted some time ago from the leesburg daily commercial...it may not answer all of your questions, but it does give clarifying information.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

They have to find some way to spend all our tax $$$$ Heaven forbid they should try to manage cost and lower taxes. They have extra money and they are going to find a way to spend it.

How many times were taxes raised in the past 7 years ?

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by nanance

1) The Sumter County sheriff is asking for 18 new deputies in the next two years - how many deputies does the county now employ? 180 - which would be a 10% increase...90 currently would mean a 50% increase..???

2) Will all 18 of these be assigned to the area located within The Villages? If so, would that mean a person living in Bushnell will be paying for all these additional salaries or is there a separate county fee assessed to Village residents that will cover the cost of these new hires? What is the total number of positions Sheriff Farmer is asking for? How many support staff will need to be added in addition to the 18 deputies?

3) I was under the impression that a CDD is not able to have an armed police force. Is Buttonwood part of The Villages or is it part of Wildwood? If it is part of The Villages and is built on land owned by the developer, how can there be a Wildwood Police Station located in Brownwood?

4) Has there been a noticable increase in reported crime that makes this necessary? How serious is our safety issue as our size grows?

What village do you live in?

[marianne237]

If I read it right, Bushnell has no police department any longer and is patrolled by the Sumter County sheriff dept. So, that will account for some of the deputies being hired. And, IMHO I look forward to seeing more police and/or deputies around to make sure we are safe.....and if they catch some of the speeders that we all get angry with, it's okay with me.

[kittygilchrist]

Originally Posted by marianne237

If I read it right, Bushnell has no police department any longer and is patrolled by the Sumter County sheriff dept. So, that will account for some of the deputies being hired. And, IMHO I look forward to seeing more police and/or deputies around to make sure we are safe.....and if they catch some of the speeders that we all get angry with, it's okay with me.

[BobnBev]

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist

X-2

[TraceyMooreRN]

Why is it that there are always people questioning the hiring of Law Enforcement- but not Fire Department? They both save lives and put their lives on the line to obey the law and protect the citizens.

Police give tickets--because "people" break the law. They also show up to crime scenes, get shot at, run after criminals and even deliver babies (well maybe not many in The Villages) but they do.

Taxes go to help with the cost of living in any city. Do you think that Sumter County- just picked 18 out of a hat? Or do you think they really need 25 or more and opted for 18? How many patrol at one time on one shift? What if you have a few calls that require more than one officer on two parts of the county? Ever thought they might need "backup" for their safety or your safety? When you need an officer in an emergency and can't get one to your house because there are not enough on the streets--I bet we would hear complaints on this forum--(that is if they ever let the ER get some slack).

Hats off to all the Police/Fire Departments that always put their lives on the line. I think it is great Sumter County is going to hire more officers and dispatchers!

[billethkid]

Sumter County is a lot bigger than just TV.....so whyis the thought these additions are just for TV?

I contend they could assign all 18 to TV and do nothing other than ticket traffic violations on the road and the multi modal paths. The ticketing will more than offset their pay and could be used to fight the lessor issue in TV.....crime.

When they get TV to the status that everybody who drives here adhere's to the rules of the road then maybe assign them to something else (what was that cracking sound....musta been hell freezing over!!).

btk

[perrjojo]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

They have to find some way to spend all our tax $$$$ Heaven forbid they should try to manage cost and lower taxes. They have extra money and they are going to find a way to spend it.

I always wonder who "they"are and why "they" always seem to be out to get "us".