[Justus]

Originally Posted by Marathon Man

I happened to be at Everglades. I spoke with some of those who showed up in their trucks. There were working men who are concerned about job cuts if future developement slows down. It appears that their words were listened to and considered.

This thinking that "The Developer" makes all things evil happen gets a little silly at times.

Here is another thing to think about. Sumter county is not just residents of The Villages. It would be extremely selfish of us to ignore the needs of the many working people who want to feed their families.

Thank you!

[CWGUY]

Originally Posted by John41

Time to show support for the NEW commissioners fulfilling their promise to roll back the 25% tax increase passed by the developers puppets and overwhelming rejected by residents. More developer dirty tricks organizing this fake contractor protest. This is a very scary intimidation and show of force tactic by the developer taking over residents recreation facilities. The Sumter sheriff needs to protect the residents rights.

Sorry..... wrong. That rec. center is owned by The Developer not the residents or The District. They PAID $135,000 in property taxes on that bldg. in 2020. As a County resident, I think it's nice they let the County use it. The info. is out there for anyone who wants to get the facts.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by PugMom

sounds like they postponed the vote--pushed it down the road apiece.

They did..............the "rollback candidates" rolled over from their promises.

[JoMar]

The reality of what will happen when development slows down is starting to sink in. If only everything was as simple as voters sometimes think it should be. We constantly complain about health care and empty stores, that COSTCO or TJ's (and others) won't build here yet we want to push higher costs on them by charging higher impact fees which are passed on which changes their business plan. When costs become too high, business will pass on by or leave, look at the States up north that are losing business to more friendly States. Make Sumter a non friendly business location and they will move on. Revenue vs Cost, always the decider.

[camelbob]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

They did..............the "rollback candidates" rolled over from their promises.

Issues tabled until July. Let's see what happens then. If nothing----time to find replacements for the EMS individuals in the next election. Back peddling?

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Agree. I was amazed at how long that article was.

The article states developers are only required to pay 40% of the maximum impact fee allowed by law. Did that change when the 25% tax increase was put into place or has it always been that low.

Very misleading headline implying that the Commissioners are considering a tax increase has already confused a number of people.

You are correct, the headline of the article in the Daily Sun was very misleading. The commissioners are not proposing a tax increase, they are proposing that the impact fees necessary because of new development be paid by others besides existing residents of the county. It is easy to see the confusion the misleading headline would cause to those who have not been following the situation.

[Number 10 GI]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

They did..............the "rollback candidates" rolled over from their promises.

Just doing what politicians do.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by camelbob

Issues tabled until July. Let's see what happens then. If nothing----time to find replacements for the EMS individuals in the next election. Back peddling?

This can happen when second stringers take over.

Originally Posted by PugMom

sounds like they postponed the vote--pushed it down the road apiece.

They still plan to eliminate the 25% tax increase just trying to avoid confrontation.

Originally Posted by Marathon Man

I happened to be at Everglades. I spoke with some of those who showed up in their trucks. There were working men who are concerned about job cuts if future developement slows down. It appears that their words were listened to and considered.

This thinking that "The Developer" makes all things evil happen gets a little silly at times.

Here is another thing to think about. Sumter county is not just residents of The Villages. It would be extremely selfish of us to ignore the needs of the many working people who want to feed their families.

It would be extremely selfish of these workers to force senior citizens on FIXED incomes to pay INCREASED taxes. And these increased taxes might keep people from buying as The Villages becomes unaffordable. Then these workers would lose their jobs.

Don't conservative economists say "Cut taxes to spur growth?"

[kaniess]

If you raise taxes on something you get less of it. The construction workers know that if the impact fees are drastically raised there will be fewer houses, stores and restaurants built in Sumter County. Thus fewer jobs and lower pay for workers. I'm pleased that they are standing up for their jobs and their families.

[DrBrutyle109]

Originally Posted by Northerner52

What was going on at Everglades last night. The entire parking lot was filled with huge dump trucks, cement mixers and cars.

That happens a lot when there is construction going on close by.

[claylayer]

How much money are we talking about? We bought a home for $350,000.00. How much more does this 25% increase cost per year to fuel all of this new growth? Just moved here .

[coconutmama]

Originally Posted by John41

It has the developer's fingerprints all over it. Remember when he wanted a zoning change for Bob Evans restaurant and sent threatening letters to residents if they opposed him. One of the non Villages newspapers needs to get involved.

Agree that having the trucks in the parking lot was a bully approach by the developer & his cronies. The workers need support, which is why I’m glad the $15/hr increase will become effective eventually. But I believe the workers were sold a bill of goods to show up in that manner.

Give the new commissioners a chance. The tax increase was totally unfair to ALL Sumter tax payers, this includes workers here & home owners in lower Sumter who are nowhere near The Villages & still had to pay the increase

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by kaniess

If you raise taxes on something you get less of it. The construction workers know that if the impact fees are drastically raised there will be fewer houses, stores and restaurants built in Sumter County. Thus fewer jobs and lower pay for workers. I'm pleased that they are standing up for their jobs and their families.

I imagine the workers were instructed to go to the meeting by their companies. The vehicles filling the parking lot are not commuter vehicles. I have to believe if any employee chose on their own to take such a company vehicle to an after-hours meeting they would soon find themselves to be an ex-employee. The workers certainly may feel the need to speak about the impact fees but I don't believe for a minute that this wasn't a coordinated demonstration.