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The Villages
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Meeting on amenity cap removal should be held at town square

Dennis Petrucelli

Florida holds a special attraction to people for many reasons.  As its nickname, “the Sunshine State,” implies it has plenty of sunshine and warm weather making tourism one of its major industries.  Another attractive feature that induces people to retire here are the attractive tax advantages.  

Against this backdrop we segue as the reasons for the popularity and rapid growth of The Villages. A resident’s retelling of their “The Villages” experience and the lasting impressions they have of The Villages varies, depends on when they made their purchased of a home.  

As some of you are aware earlier residents express their fondness and appreciation for the honesty and warmth extended by its original developer Harold Schwartz. In 1983 Harold Schwartz brought his son H. Gary Morse in on the business and he greatly contributed to its gradual ascent gaining momentum and reaching a frenzied pace until the housing market bubble burst in 2008; albeit it continued its steady expansion. All during this time rumors were afloat that the build out would end. There even was a rumor that a visit by George W. Bush and Jeb Bush was an arranged alignment signaling that the Morse Family was about to end building here and beginning another version in the state of Texas.

Well history reveals that the Morse family had always intended to continue its’ built out here.  While it was gradual, if you picked a time of when this became apparent and when The Villages took a new form 2009 is as good a date as any. It was around this time that The Villages clearly moved from an age 55+ retirement community to a vacation destination.

There is a proposal on the table submitted by a majority of the PWAC members, to the District, to remove the cap from the amenity fee in order to meet a projected expenditure shortfall. The District has scheduled a public meeting for Thursday May 16, 2019 at 10:00AM at the District Office located in Lake Sumter Landing.

It is unfortunate that there is limited space available at the District Office. The Sunshine State in their quest for good faith dealing and to promote and publish openness (ie. right to know) enacted Florida’s Sunshine State Laws. It would behoove the District then, to consider holding this important meeting outdoors and in the sunshine at the center of Town Square providing ample space for as many residents who want to attend and to be given an opportunity to pose question, suggestion and otherwise express their views.  

To reiterate in previous discussions the suggested breach of the cap on amenity fees to meet the projected expenditure shortfall is not an effective remedy as it will only serve as a short- term solution until it becomes obvious that it is not meeting the stated goal of generating sufficient revenue to offset expenditures. This will necessitate a discussion of the method and manner of just how to increase sources of revenue to meet obligations.   

It is easy enough to project fixed monetary obligations, adding an inflation factor in order to set an annual budget.  However, this entire situation is exacerbated because of an increasing influx of vacationers and unknown obligations such as the widening of multi-modal pathways on the north side, sinkholes located in Calumet Grove and elsewhere and the Morse Street Bridge project that had never been considered in the budgeting process. How many more of these unrecognized liability exposures exist, and how should they be managed?  

This community’s moved from a retirement community to a vacation destination, and because of it, honest and innovative discussion is needed as an enormous influx of vacationers have an adverse impact on our infrastructure and facilities as they descend on The Villages. Village residents paid and continue to pay for The Villages infrastructure and its recreational facilities, with their purchase of The Villages Lifestyle, purchase of facilities, etc. and monthly amenity fees. And, they incurred additional fees such as trail fees for golf. It is clear then, Villages residents have an invested interest and right to contribute to this discussion, and a strong voice in the manner this projected shortfall is resolved.  And it is further evident that The Villages move to a vacation destination impinges on their quality of life.   

As such the morally right and effective remedy to meet known and unknown future obligations can only result from an infusion of new money. One viable method is to charge all non-residents user fees to gain access to our amenities as this will generate the needed revenue, we need to meet both known and unknown future obligations. Secondly user fees will cut down on those who are gaming the system. And lastly, non-residents, unlike residents are not penalized for abuses such as making a tee time and not showing up.  

The District, as representatives of Village residents has a duty to explore all suggestions offered by villages residents and to provide clear and concise reasons as to why any suggestion is unacceptable.  If unacceptable then the District should offer alternatives other than adding increased financial burdens on residents who have already invested heavily by paying for the building of The Villages with no acknowledgement or control in accepting legal obligation not of their doing, nor say in the movement of this community from a retirement community to a vacation destination. Clearly renting is becoming the standard method of growth necessitating future building to include condos, apartments etc.  This manner of growth requires serious and open discussion as to methods for funding and more importantly transparency as to fair sharing of the financial burdens and their impact on The Villages Lifestyle. The granting of amenity rights to residents of Freedom Pointe, is a case in point. I opine, others can decide.

Dennis Petrucelli is a resident of the Village of Bonnybrook.

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