Published June 19, 2003

OCALA - Developers' amenity fee collection records are available for State Road 200 Corridor residents at the office of David Elspermann, Clerk of the Circuit Court. Managers and developers are required to publish the amount of amenity fee collections under the terms of Florida Statute 689.265

The reports submitted for the period ended Dec. 31, 2002 reflect an average 3 percent rise in the amount of fees collected. The reports don't include information about whether the increases are the result of a population change or a fee increase.

Current records show that On Top of the World/Colonnades, the area's largest community, reported nearly twice as much income as the next largest development. OTOW collected nearly $7.1 million for the 2002-2003 fiscal year, nearly 10 percent higher than the prior fiscal year's collections. Of that amount, about $162,000 went toward security in the neighborhood, compared to $138,871 a year earlier.

Oak Run Associates Ltd. reported $3.5 million in income for the year ended Dec. 31, nearly 4 percent more than in the same period a year earlier. The community spent nearly 345,000 on security services, and reported an end-of-fiscal-year surplus of $978,412.

The operating account of the Palm Cay subdivision reported collecting just over $500,000 in fees for the year. The community spent nearly $123,000 on security services, according to the statement of receipts and disbursements.

Pine Run reported $111,889.53 for the period between Oct. 31 and Dec. 31, 2002. During that two-month period, $22,633.20 went toward security services

Developer fees are a recurring concern for many of the Corridor's retired residents. Some of the area's most popular advocacy groups, including Concerned Homeowners in Partnership and its partner, Cyber Citizens for Justice, have addressed the issue and called for more transparency in the fee collection and reporting process.

During recent debates about a rise in the county's solid waste taxes set to go into effect in October, Corridor residents complained about their inability to monitor their developers' amenity fee collections.

On June 9, the Commission voted to increase the solid waste fee from $57 per household to $78 per household.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Marion County Clerk
110 NW 1st Avenue
Ocala, 34475