Important Update from the Country Place Special Maintenance District Trustees

For nearly 40 years, the District has collected just $50 per home per year to maintain our community's entrances, pond, fence, lighting, and other shared spaces. That amount hasn’t changed since the 1980s — but costs have skyrocketed.

Here’s one example: When the $50 fee was first set, electricity cost $0.069 per kWh. Today, it’s $14.65 per kWh — a shocking increase of over 21,000%. Meanwhile, our budget has stayed the same.

  Last year, a proposed increase was voted down by homeowners. As trustees, we’re extremely concerned. At our annual budget meeting on June 9, 2025, we had to face the hard truth: In two years, even with strategic cuts, there simply won’t be enough funds to continue maintaining the community.

  That means things like landscaping, lighting, and even basic upkeep of entrances would need to be cut. And even if an increase passes in the 2026 election, the funds wouldn’t be available until 2027.

 We want to be transparent about what may come next. These aren’t threats — they’re the real choices we face:

•  Option 1: Hold a New Election in 2026
  We can spend thousands to hold another vote and hope residents approve a much-needed fee increase. This would help us maintain the community to the standard you’ve come to expect.

• Option 2: Merge with Northdale
  We could explore joining the Northdale Special District. This would require legal help to make it happen, so we are unsure where funds for that would need to come from. If successful, Country Place would adopt Northdale’s assessment rate (currently $150/year, capped at $160). This would be an increase of $100 per Country Place property per year.

• Option 3: Turn the Community Over to the County
  If no solution is found and trustees step down, Hillsborough County would take over. They would only maintain basic areas, and entrance signs and walls wouldn’t be cared for or repaired.

To be clear, the District is not the HOA. The HOA manages its own separate budget. The District is running out of money — fast.

 We urge all homeowners to take this seriously and to vote YES in the next election. An increase is long overdue and absolutely necessary to keep Country Place looking great and well maintained.

 Thank you for reading — and for being part of this community.

 — Your Country Place District Trustees