Steep increases in the Project Wide Advisory Committee funding are being attributed to Community Development District 12.
Community Development District 6 and 8 supervisors on Friday asked some pointed questions about increases to be paid for PWAC, which is made up of CDDs 5 through 12.
CDD 6 could see a 15 percent increase in its funding for PWAC. The CDD 6 PWAC budget for this year was $1.8 million and is projected to swell to $2.1 million next year.
There have been suspicions that the PWAC increases were for the Morse Boulevard bridge embankment project, but $2.1 million already has been tucked away for the possibility of that work.
Budget Director Barbara Kays on Friday said the PWAC increases are largely attributable to CDD 12, which includes the Village of Fenney, becoming a part of PWAC.
“I am confused as to how we are getting to this number,” said CDD 6 Supervisor John Calandro.
He indicated it appeared that existing CDD 6 residents would be paying for the upkeep of the multi-modal paths, landscaping and stormwater basins in CDD 12.
CDD 6 last month voted to keep its maintenance assessment at the same level for the coming fiscal year. Instead of raising the assessment, CDD 6 will dip into its reserves to make up the difference, something about which a CDD 6 supervisor expressed concern.
CDD 8 Supervisor Sal Torname said he is “troubled” by his district’s rising costs for PWAC.
He pointed out that 53 percent of the money CDD 8 residents are paying in maintenance assessment fees is going to PWAC. CDD 8 residents will not see an increase in the maintenance assessment rate for next year, even though the budget is increasing by $247,923. The difference is being made up by tapping into working capital.
“It is inevitable we will be forced to look at our assessment rate,” he said.
Torname called for tougher scrutiny of the PWAC budget.
It was pointed out that new golf cart bridges are going up over State Road 44 and the Florida Turnpike to connect the newer areas to The Villages.
“That infrastructure is ultimately going to come under our jurisdiction for maintenance,” noted CDD 8 Supervisor Duane Johnson.
