We are halfway through the year! Over the last six months, our office has been working on several system maintenance and improvement projects to provide quality services to our community. I am also proud to note that we have received recognition from the state Clerk’s Association Annual Best Practices Excellence Program, where we earned 10/10 Recognition of Excellence Certification. These accomplishments are a testament to our staff’s dedication and hard work. We have so much more planned for the next half of the year, and I hope you’ll continue supporting our progress.
As you make your plans for the 4th of July, we hope that you will consider joining us for a Centennial VIP Reception on Friday, July 7th. During this reception, you’ll be able to engage with an interactive display of the past 100 years of Collier County’s Courthouse that our Centennial Committee developed. The display includes photos, stories, and videos of some of the most compelling events that have shaped our community. Complimentary refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP to centennial@collierclerk.com if you would like to join our celebration.
The proposed almost $2 billion FY 2024 budget was discussed and analyzed during the recent Board of County Commissioners Annual Budget Workshop on June 15th. Government departments and constitutional officers provided brief overviews of their recent achievements, budget requests, and allocations for the following year. I have included a summary article of the budget workshop in this month’s newsletter so please look.
Earlier this year, we provided an article regarding the ongoing development projects at the Golden Gate Golf Course that the County purchased in 2019. We have prepared an update on the development of Affordable Housing, the State Veterans Nursing facility, and the golf & entertainment complex in this location. We continue to monitor these projects due to the extended development period. Each of these projects is expected to cost more than originally funded.. The lack of clear timelines and budget allocation remains an issue for these projects.
I am pleased to share that the Clerk’s Office has partnered with Ave Maria Law to provide internships for six law students who will work within the Clerk’s Office Courts Division. Any opportunities to expose Collier students to local government are always welcome. I wish all these talented students well while interning with the Clerk’s Office and hope they have a rich and rewarding experience!
Lastly, I want to recognize again and extend our gratitude to our sponsors and community supporters who have contributed their skills, expertise, and services to our past community events. They are why all our events so far have been an enormous success. (See list inside this issue) Now that season is over, I am encouraging the public to support these local businesses that have stepped up to make a change in our community. We hope to continue this partnership in the coming years!
