I hope everyone is staying cool and enjoying this summer! While this is the perfect time to relax and enjoy our great beaches, August is back-to-school month, which means additional expenses for many families. To save money, make sure to take advantage of the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, which began July 24 and will run until August 6, 2023.
One major news item we are covering in this month’s issue is the early sunset of the Infrastructure Surtax. When the referendum allowing for the collection of a 1% Infrastructure Surtax was signed, it was indicated that this would continue for seven years or until the tax generated $490 Million dollars countywide. For collections through May 2023, the tax has generated over $490 Million dollars, so the tax will sunset two years earlier on December 31, 2023. This tax was designated to fund specific, voter-approved priorities, many of which are still underway.
In our December 2022 Newsletter, we discussed the various property acquisitions proposed by Conservation Collier. Notably, there was a property on Marco Island, which is inhabited by gopher tortoises that have protection measures in place should the property be developed. The property was once again brought before the Board of County Commissioners on July 25, where the $429,000 valuation for the .39 acre parcel was again rejected. Even if developed, any remaining tortoises would have to be relocated at an estimated cost of over $191,000. The parcel is adjacent to private residential homes and does not have public parking, limiting public accessibility.
Do you regularly search Official Records on collierclerk.com? We recently published an updated and more modern interface. This new page expands the public’s ability to search the Official Records for important documents pertaining to their property and personal lives. The update includes several new features that we hope will improve your experience. Please let us know if there are any additional improvements that would benefit your searches.
I am proud to share that our office again received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the 20th consecutive year. This award is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting. A Certificate of Recognition has been presented to our Accounting Department for their efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.
Our office is offering several rewarding career and volunteer opportunities for those who wish to help the citizens of Collier County. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their applications at collierclerk.com. We are looking forward to having you on our team!
Enjoy the rest of your summer!
