To understand the necessity of this tax reduction effort, let’s reflect back on the 25% tax increase in Sumter County a few years ago. I attended the public meeting on this issue and addressed the then-commissioners and Bradley Arnold on the absurdity of such an increase. You can read about the meeting at this link.
That kind of behavior can’t exist in the real world of business, but political leadership doesn’t live in the real world of business. The money was to be used to help the Developer expand The Villages southward.
My point was straightforward: If they want to develop, let them pay for it. I won’t go into the difficulty inherent in the relationship between our tax money and politicians; most of us understand the issue. Unfortunately, the only way to control them while we go on with our lives is to deny them the money.
Bradley, you are the poster boy for this initiative.
Jack Gaenzle is a resident of the Village of St. James.