AAC Amenity Deferral Resolution – What Does It Really Mean?

The Amenity Authority Committee (AAC) recently passed a resolution to cap the amenity fee for residents at $199. We believe the AAC, a resident-elected committee, has not clearly communicated to the residents that they do not have the power to unilaterally defer amenity fee rate increases. Their legal counsel advised them that under the terms of the Interlocal Governmental Agreement that governs how the AAC operates, all parties must agree to cap this fee and defer future rate increases. Item 8 H of the agreement states that in no event shall an action by the AAC result in residents outside of the Center District (this is the district governed by the ACC) result in residents of the Villages outside the Center District Service territory (this covers all other residents of the Villages whose amenity fee rates are set by the Public Wide Advisory Committee in some cases, and by the Developer in the newer area of the Villages) being treated differently than the residents within the Center District Service territory. The intent is to create a seamless community known as “The Villages,” where everyone is treated equally.

Their action, calling for a cap and deferral rate, is noble and understandable given the current financial position of the AAC. The challenge is to persuade the other parties to the governing agreement to implement the same action, so that all residents are treated equally and have their amenity fees capped at $199, with future increases deferred.

Given the different financial conditions of the other parties to the agreement, it’s very hard to see how they could treat their residents the same.

We wish them well with their endeavor, but believe it is not realistic to expect PWAC and The Developer to be able to support this proposal financially. The only other alternative to address this concern would be an amendment to the Interlocal Governmental Agreement, which would allow the three distinct parties to the agreement to take actions that only affect their portion of The Villages, for which they establish the amenity fee rates.

David Fountaine, VHA Executive Director