[twoplanekid]

I want just the facts as Joe Friday would say and as suggested by Ms. Tutt. So, who runs/controls The Villages? I know that The Villages is a wonderful place with great people. The developer started the community and continues to build new houses, recreation centers, golf courses and other amenities. The Developer also manages the commercial CDDs by appointing associates to the board of supervisors for these CDDs. All residential CDDs will eventually be governed by elected district supervisors. And then there are inter-local district agreements that must be followed that allow someone to control all? Are all CDDs created equal? Who is in charge and where does the buck stop?

It has become apparent to me in comments made by many in the thread “Janet Tutt doesn’t like us?” that there is a general lack of understanding of the organizational structure and who has the final say. Let’s use Janet Tutt as an example. Some say “Managing day-to-day affairs for the developer is her job” while others say “Janet Tutt does not work for the Developer”. I am confused. The Village leadership structure should be public knowledge.

Many people have suggested that the developer runs TV as a personal business as is suggested by the IRS in the Bond case. Our Village attorneys and others claim that The Villages are operated under CDD rules that allow elected and or appointed officials to govern with very little control by the developer. Please go to the districtgov web site to read the various descriptions of governance in IRS updates.

The operational structure chart for The Villages can be found on the districtgov web.

Village Community Development Districts

It’s as clear as mud to me after looking at this chart!

When talking to some Villages employees or in a welcome orientation, people tend to beat around the bush as to who is in ultimate control. They may not know.

I am trying to understand what form of governmental structure we do have in The Villages and who is in control. It looks like CDDs plus something else. Some might say don’t ask as everything is perfect. I say enquiring minds need to know to help stop the misinformation and rumors. If the developer doesn’t control The Villages then stop saying the developer does and vice versa.

Can anyone point to official documents that explain the governance of The Villages and who then controls the same?

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by twoplanekid

I want just the facts as Joe Friday would say and as suggested by Ms. Tutt. So, who runs/controls The Villages? I know that The Villages is a wonderful place with great people. The developer started the community and continues to build new houses, recreation centers, golf courses and other amenities. The Developer also manages the commercial CDDs by appointing associates to the board of supervisors for these CDDs. All residential CDDs will eventually be governed by elected district supervisors. And then there are inter-local district agreements that must be followed that allow someone to control all? Are all CDDs created equal? Who is in charge and where does the buck stop?

It has become apparent to me in comments made by many in the thread “Janet Tutt doesn’t like us?” that there is a general lack of understanding of the organizational structure and who has the final say. Let’s use Janet Tutt as an example. Some say “Managing day-to-day affairs for the developer is her job” while others say “Janet Tutt does not work for the Developer”. I am confused. The Village leadership structure should be public knowledge.

Many people have suggested that the developer runs TV as a personal business as is suggested by the IRS in the Bond case. Our Village attorneys and others claim that The Villages are operated under CDD rules that allow elected and or appointed officials to govern with very little control by the developer. Please go to the districtgov web site to read the various descriptions of governance in IRS updates.

The operational structure chart for The Villages can be found on the districtgov web.

Village Community Development Districts

It’s as clear as mud to me after looking at this chart!

When talking to some Villages employees or in a welcome orientation, people tend to beat around the bush as to who is in ultimate control. They may not know.

I am trying to understand what form of governmental structure we do have in The Villages and who is in control. It looks like CDDs plus something else. Some might say don’t ask as everything is perfect. I say enquiring minds need to know to help stop the misinformation and rumors. If the developer doesn’t control The Villages then stop saying the developer does and vice versa.

Can anyone point to official documents that explain the governance of The Villages and who then controls the same?

It is a CDD. And it works better than most "usual" ways of doing things as anyone can see.

Please don't try to change it.

It is far bigger and more smoothly run than Urbana, Ohio.

My advice to you on your first post a couple of months ago where you wanted to start a movement for golf cart seat belts before you even owned a golf cart was wait and see. I have nothing against seat belts, but I do with unneeded rules and enforcing agencies.

I still say wait and see about how things are done here. It is amazingly run. I suspect that The Morse Family runs it. That is o.k. with me.

If it ain't broke. Please don't fix it.

[twoplanekid]

I am not asking or wanting to change a thing in The Villages! Where are the facts! Please don't give me personal views.

I am trying to stop rumors and misinformation from being spread.

[kstew43]

you do need to remember the most important thing.....the villages is a subdivision, not a city or even a town. It is a development.

It is run by the developer.

[pqrstar]

kstew43 says "you do need to remember the most important thing.....the villages is a subdivision, not a city or even a town. It is a development. It is run by the developer."

The OP just wants the FACTS and something to substantiate that, not opinion.
So where are your facts?


see below

I say enquiring minds need to know to help stop the misinformation and rumors. If the developer doesn’t control The Villages then stop saying the developer does and vice versa.

Can anyone point to official documents that explain the governance of The Villages and who then controls the same?

[pqrstar]

This is what I found at The Villages Village Community Development Districts website.

"A Community Development District is a public non-profit unit of local government with the special purpose of providing the services described above. As a unit of local government, the District is subject to many of the same State Statutes that regulate cities and counties; of particular interest are those statutes related to ethics in government for the elected Board of Supervisors, Government in the Sunshine, a cornerstone of local government in the State of Florida which requires that decisions made by any governmental agency be done at a public meeting; the public records law, which means the records of the District are open for review by any citizen; the auditing requirements in which annually the accounting records of the District are audited by an independent certified public accountant and the results of such audit are provided to the State Controller and Auditor General; competitive bidding requirements for construction and maintenance contracts, and various other statutory provisions that protect the interest of the public."
VCDD Your Community District

describing district 3, which is north of SR 466.

Now that you are generally familiar with the District concept, let's describe the election process and the Board of Supervisors who oversee the activities of the District. Initially, the Board of Supervisors, consisting of five, are elected based upon land ownership. The legislature, in creating Chapter 190, recognized that in order to maintain continuity of the facilities provided to the newly developing community, that the developer, who then owns the majority of the land should be granted the right to substantially complete the project as envisioned by the various land use and zoning approvals that were obtained as part of the development review process. However, the legislature also recognized that at the time prescribed by statute, control should begin a process of transition to the residents. Therefore, at the election in 2000, three Supervisors of the five were elected by landowner vote (one vote per lot owned and one vote per acre owned). The same process occurred in 2002. In 2004 one supervisor was elected by landowners and two supervisors were elected by "qualified electors" (registered voters) residing in CDD No. 3. From that point forward, all elections will be qualified based elections. This election conversion format ensures that the residents ultimately control the level of service provided to the infrastructure facilities that the District maintains."
Village Community Development Districts

Similarly for District 1
The legislature also recognized that at the time prescribed by statute, control should begin a process of transition to the residents. Since 2000, all supervisors in District No. 1 have been elected by 'qualified electors' (registered voters) residing in the District. They are elected on a non-partisan basis on the general election ballot.
Village Community Development Districts

and similarly for District 2
Since 2004, all five supervisors in District No. 2 have been elected by "qualified electors" (registered voters) residing in the District. They are elected on a non-partisan basis on the general election ballot.
Village Community Development Districts

Ultimately district 4 and other residential districts will be resident controlled
" However, the legislature also recognized that at the time prescribed by statute, control should transition to the residents. Therefore, at the election held in 2006, one supervisor was elected by a landowner vote (one vote per lot owned and/or one vote per acre owned). In addition, two supervisors were elected by "qualified electors" (registered voters) residing in CDD No. 4. From this point forward, all elections in District 4 will be qualified based elections. This election conversion format ensures that the residents ultimately control the level of service provided to the infrastructure facilities that the District maintains."
Village Community Development Districts

and similarly for all CDD's
" This election conversion format ensures that the residents ultimately control the level of service provided to the infrastructure facilities that the District maintains."
Village Community Development Districts


Now for the commercial centers
Village Center CDD
"Maintenance of the infrastructure is provided through an annual assessment to property owners based upon square footage of properties benefited. The assessment programs are managed through the Village Center District Accounting Department, and may be collected on the Lake County tax bill, by agreement with the Lake County Tax Collector, utilizing the uniform method of assessment adopted by the Board of Supervisors.

Governance of the Village Center Community Development District is accomplished by a five member Board of Supervisors, elected biannually, as described in Chapter 190.006, Florida Statutes. Inasmuch as there are no residential properties contained within the boundaries of the Village Center Community Development District, members of the Board of Supervisors will continue to be elected by the landowners of property within the boundaries of the District."
Village Community Development Districts

Sumter Landing CDD

"Maintenance of the infrastructure is provided through an annual assessment to property owners, again based upon acreage benefited. The assessment programs are managed through the Sumter Landing District Accounting Department, and may be collected on the Sumter County tax bill, by agreement with the Sumter County Tax Collector, utilizing the uniform method of assessment adopted by the Board of Supervisors.

Governance of the Sumter Landing Community Development District is accomplished by a five member Board of Supervisors, elected biannually, as described in Chapter 190.006, Florida Statutes. Inasmuch as there are no residential properties contained within the boundaries of the Sumter Landing Community Development District, members of the Board of Supervisors will continue to be elected by the landowners of property within the boundaries of the District."
Village Community Development Districts

[Bonny]

[drdodge]

I think you should rent for some time to get a feel for the villages and how it is run. I have lined here for 10 years and I think that it is the best place in the world

[Bonny]

Frankly, I have lived here 15 years this month. I don't know and don't care who's running what. I just want everyone to keep doing whatever they are doing.

[pqrstar]

Originally Posted by kstew43

you do need to remember the most important thing.....the villages is a subdivision, not a city or even a town. It is a development.

It is run by the developer.

Each CDD is a public non-profit unit of local government.

Each CDD is controlled by a 5 member board of supervisors. As each CDD is built out, a process of transition will begin so that the district will eventually be controlled by the residents.

The procedure is spelled out at the Village Community Development Districts website.

"Your community development district"
VCDD Your Community District

Since there are no residents in the Village Center CDD and Sumter Landing CDD, the board of supervisors will be elected by the landowners of property within the boundaries of the District.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by Bonny

Are you sharing???

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

Are you sharing???

Sorry, I just finished the wine but here's a beer

[twoplanekid]

I understand the election process for the districts as described on the Village web site. This document doesn’t describe the relationships between the districts to govern The Villages as one entity. I understand that something called inter-local agreements come into play. Is there one entity that controls or directs all districts? It doesn’t seem that The Villages is a loose association of CDDs. I can’t find anything about these interactions on the web site.

I love my house in the Villages that I get to see from time to time and am happy that my brother purchased a house down the street from me.

I would hope that by having this learning experience/discussion everyone can come away with a better understanding of the governing of The Villages to dispel some of the rumors and misunderstandings that exist today on this site.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by twoplanekid

I want just the facts as Joe Friday would say and as suggested by Ms. Tutt. So, who runs/controls The Villages? I know that The Villages is a wonderful place with great people. The developer started the community and continues to build new houses, recreation centers, golf courses and other amenities. The Developer also manages the commercial CDDs by appointing associates to the board of supervisors for these CDDs. All residential CDDs will eventually be governed by elected district supervisors. And then there are inter-local district agreements that must be followed that allow someone to control all? Are all CDDs created equal? Who is in charge and where does the buck stop?

It has become apparent to me in comments made by many in the threuad “Janet Tutt doesn’t like us?” that there is a general lack of understanding of the organizational structure and who has the final say. Let’s use Janet Tutt as an example. Some say “Managing day-to-day affairs for the developer is her job” while others say “Janet Tutt does not work for the Developer”. I am confused. The Village leadership structure should be public knowledge.

Many people have suggested that the developer runs TV as a personal business as is suggested by the IRS in the Bond case. Our Village attorneys and others claim that The Villages are operated under CDD rules that allow elected and or appointed officials to govern with very little control by the developer. Please go to the districtgov web site to read the various descriptions of governance in IRS updates.

The operational structure chart for The Villages can be found on the districtgov web.

Village Community Development Districts

It’s as clear as mud to me after looking at this chart!

When talking to some Villages employees or in a welcome orientation, people tend to beat around the bush as to who is in ultimate control. They may not know.

I am trying to understand what form of governmental structure we do have in The Villages and who is in control. It looks like CDDs plus something else. Some might say don’t ask as everything is perfect. I say enquiring minds need to know to help stop the misinformation and rumors. If the developer doesn’t control The Villages then stop saying the developer does and vice versa.

Can anyone point to official documents that explain the governance of The Villages and who then controls the same?

Me! I do what I want, when I want, and how long I want!

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Bonny

Frankly, I have lived here 15 years this month. I don't know and don't care who's running what. I just want everyone to keep doing whatever they are doing.

And all the restaurants to remain delish! I'm with you.

My husband went to a meeting he thought was worthwhile in explaining how things are run. Here is the description:

CDD Orientation
Even if you think it is something that will bore you to tears, you should attend attend the “Introduction to your Special Purpose Local Government” informational program. At this information session, you will learn how the districts operate and learn other important community information about the people, services, and other supporting entities that help make The Villages tick.
Sessions are held every Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at the District Office (3201 Wedgewood Lane), in the Conference Room at the east end of the building next to the Customer Service Center. NOTE: now held in district offices at LSL