Yay! more taxes and fees for things we are entitled to...

[JKTex]

Local government is socialism. Local functions like fire, ems, police are not an appropriate use of collective tax dollars.

Signed,
Not one single person

Gotta lighten things up.

[scottc]

Not that I'm against the new fee (such needed service has to be paid for somehow)... but I assume there was little or no residential input.

One board member is a resident, and, in this case, they did actually meet with some residents to get their input on the best way to pay for Fire/EMS service.

Is this a board separate from the FWSD #6 board? Who is on this board and how do they get on it? Lantana probably has the best network of communication of any neighborhood--why was it not utilized?

[admin]

Is this a board separate from the FWSD #6 board?

Who is on this board and how do they get on it?

Yes, this the Lantana Community Association (HOA), not the FWSD.

Here is more info about the Lantana HOA: http://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/abou ... ssociation

[scottc]

That makes Bruce's comment in the last Lantana letter about the HOA's fiscal responsibility all the more hilarious.

[slider701]

Not that I'm against the new fee (such needed service has to be paid for somehow)... but I assume there was little or no residential input.

One board member is a resident, and, in this case, they did actually meet with some residents to get their input on the best way to pay for Fire/EMS service.

Is this a board separate from the FWSD #6 board? Who is on this board and how do they get on it? Lantana probably has the best network of communication of any neighborhood--why was it not utilized?

From Max's link:

http://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/abou ... ssociation

The board members for the HOA are:

Teresa Carson
Mark Wagner
Pete Wagner

All three work for Republic:

http://dallas.bizjournals.com/gen/execu ... FE0258264F

http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2006/de ... ols/?print

I'd be willing to bet that there will not be anyone but a Republic employee/owner on the board until Lantana is built out and turned over to the home owners..........a long, long time from today

[JKTex]

I'd be willing to bet that there will not be anyone but a Republic employee/owner on the board until Lantana is built out and turned over to the home owners..........a long, long time from today

That's pretty typical. And usually begins to suck in a short time frame.

[Common Sense Al]

I'd be willing to bet that there will not be anyone but a Republic employee/owner on the board until Lantana is built out and turned over to the home owners..........a long, long time from today

That's pretty typical. And usually begins to suck in a short time frame.

If you ask me... there ought to be laws that require a certain amount of homeowner representation (through homeowner voting which I don't think the HOA has EVER had) when a certain point is reached... and as big as Lantana is now, that point ought to have been reached awhile ago so that there should have already been a homeowners vote on some HOA board seats. Republic should not be able to keep total control of our HOA for as long as they want. But it is what it is... fortunately they SEEM to be doing a decent job so far.

[jlbates]

Yeah! The Fire/EMS bill arrived today.

[Lantana4five]

I got my bill today and you know it is what it is. I reread the letter the HOA sent months ago and I am glad they are saving us the 3 cents. I guess we would be paying this in our property taxes anyway so I would rather pay this fee yearly and save some money than be part of the taxed group that pays more.

Since the HOA has been paying it out of our dues for the last few years we just did not realize how it was being paid. I understand and I am glad that we have the EMS service and the new fire station in Lantana.

[neighbor]

I find it amusing how there are so many posts at LantanaLive regarding how "nobody knew about" the new Fire/EMS fee. It's only been a topic of discussion for months (since December). Kinda reminds me of Beka (sp?) the FWSD candidate falsely harping about how the FWSD board is keeping everything a secret. Whatever...

[Rosemary]

Question - does anybody have any knowledge as to whether or not this EMS/Fire Service Assessment is tax-deductible? Since it is a tax based on our property appraisals, and since this type of assessment is normally included in property tax bills, then I'm wondering what happens in our instance, since ours is billed separately by the HOA. Would we not be able to include it in our property tax deduction because Lantana contracts with the Argyle Fire Department directly? Just wondering.

Also, I did not get a separate bill for the Assessment. I would have liked one, since I pay dues quarterly, and they used my June amount toward the assessment.

[Common Sense Al]

Question - does anybody have any knowledge as to whether or not this EMS/Fire Service Assessment is tax-deductible?

Good question. Since it is based on the value of your property, I would say it's a property tax that is deductible... but where's the tax guy? Richard?

Also, I did not get a separate bill for the Assessment. I would have liked one, since I pay dues quarterly, and they used my June amount toward the assessment.

Same here... they applied my balance (for HOA dues) to the EMS/fire fee... but no matter, I'll just pay the full amount and my balance will go back up so it's enough to pay the next month's assessment.

[Rosemary]

Also, I did not get a separate bill for the Assessment. I would have liked one, since I pay dues quarterly, and they used my June amount toward the assessment.

Same here... they applied my balance (for HOA dues) to the EMS/fire fee... but no matter, I'll just pay the full amount and my balance will go back up so it's enough to pay the next month's assessment.

Yes, that's what I'm going to do, too.

[jlbates]

I don't really understand how this billing works. I pay our HOA dues via ACH each month. The bill includes my May HOA dues plus the annual EMS fee --> the grand total is due June 1. Why are my May dues listed (but not my June, which are also due June 1)? Why are the dues listed at all, when it's acknowledged on the statement that they are paid via ACH? Shouldn't the bill be only for the EMS fee?

Guess a call will be in order, unless anyone can explain this to me.

[skiing1974]

what is this crap!?
where is this money going to?!
based on size of the house or assesed value?!
damnit!