The Villages is getting tough on residents not paying amenity fees.
The District Government has begun flexing its muscles with new collection powers made possible by a recent rate rule change.
Letters have been sent to Villagers who have fallen behind on their amenity payments, and the notices appear to be working.
“We have had a great response from residents getting current or getting on a payment plan,” Deputy District Manager Carrie Duckett told members of the Amenity Authority Committee during a meeting Wednesday at Savannah Center.
If overdue residents fail to pay up or sign up for a payment plan, they will face having their amenity access “turned off.”
The District is also taking a strict approach with water usage, and residents’ bills “must be current” to keep the water flowing.
AAC members were enthusiastic about the results and wondered if access to amenities could be leveraged against those who have been negligent about paying the $250 fee for crashing into a gate arm. District officials noted that the Risk Management Department has a strong record of tracking down and extracting money from gate crashers, as cameras gather useful surveillance images, including license plates. AAC member Rich Cole pointed out that not all of the vehicles knocking down gate arms are driven by Villagers.