Residents from throughout Sumter County are unhappy about a planned tax hike.
The proposed 24 percent tax increase will be the subject of public hearings to be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 10 and the same time on Sept. 24 at Savannah Center. The large entertainment venue has been chosen because of the anticipated size of the crowd. A large crowd turned out recently for a Sumter County Commission meeting at Colony Cottage Recreation Center and many had to be turned away because the venue was not large enough to accommodate them.
While the 24 percent tax increase is unprecedented in a county that has long prided itself on holding the line on taxes, a Villager is warning there is actually more than meets the eye.
“There’s a double whammy surprise in this year’s Sumter County property tax trim notices. The county is not only seeking a large 24 percent increase in our tax rates, but they are reassessing property values by the same or an even higher percentage,” said Matt Nichols, of the Village of Belle Aire.
He said his home’s assessment went from about $200,000 to $255,000, an increase of more than 25 percent.
“These two increases together mean many homeowners will see a total property tax bill increase of over 35 percent. Our tax bill excluding fire and maintenance charges is going from $2,000 to $2,800, a whopping 38 percent increase,” Nichols said.
Road projects, capital projects and added personnel costs for the sheriff’s offices are some of the items driving the increased expenditures.
Major road projects include the repaving of Buena Vista and Morse boulevards in The Villages. Capital projects include improvements to the animal services and sheriff’s maintenance buildings.
Eight positions will be added to the sheriff’s office due to a state mandate to provide enhanced school security due to last year’s mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public High School.
The tax increase comes despite rapid growth, which eventually will boost the county’s property tax base. Over the past year, 2,100 homes were added, including 341 outside The Villages. Construction began on 159 commercial buildings, which will add 2.5 million square feet of commercial space.
County Administrator Bradley Arnold said although growth will build the tax base, some infrastructure expenses, such as roads and fire stations, must be made before the county receives the higher property tax revenue.
Residents in the southern part of Sumter County are equally as outraged as their counterparts in The Villages.
“In south Sumter County, we don’t feel we’re getting any services for our tax dollars,” said Phyllis Smith, of Sumterville, adding that she has had no success in getting the county to deal with a hazardous oak tree on county property.
Toby Farmer, of Webster, said the county should increase impact fees on developers instead of putting the burden on property taxpayers.
“It should not fall on the citizens of the county for The Villages to grow,” said Farmer, who added that his family has lived in Sumter County for five generations.
