It’s hard to believe we are almost halfway through the year! I hope everyone is having a fantastic spring and enjoying our beautiful weather.
As usual, I am excited to share some interesting news about County projects and other relevant topics with you. I have included several event updates and system improvements that we’ve been working on since the start of the year. We hope you’ll find this information of value, and we’ll continue to keep an eye out for important items to keep you updated.
The first news I wanted to share was the update provided by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (FDVA) at the April 23, 2024, Board of County Commissioners Meeting regarding the Golden Gate Veteran’s Nursing Home project. To recap, Collier County transferred $30 million to the State Veteran Services for the development of the Veteran’s Nursing Home last year. FDVA presented a report on current funding and grant applications, as well as the accumulated interest over the last ten months of the escrow account. I have discussed my concerns related to the project, specifically the difference in the State’s interest rate on the $30 million held in escrow compared to what would have been earned on the funds had they been held by our office. (See inside for update.)
Another important update on the Golden Gate property was the new long-term lease and operating agreement to develop the Golden Gate Golf Complex approved by the BOCC with all Commissioners in favor. Issues regarding the contract, such as the vague terms regarding environmental remediation and return of value to taxpayers were discussed.
I recently attended the annual FCCC Winter Conference where Senior Inspector Katerina Pelic, along with and the Miami-Dade Clerk’s Assistant Director Phillip Rincon, presented an overview of the Clerk’s contract oversight function, and how that process yields taxpayer savings. Contract Oversight is meant to support transparency and accountability in the County’s expenditure of monies, and to help detect and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse of public resources. I am happy to share that the 62 participants from Clerks’ staff across the state found the presentation “useful and informative.”
We have compiled a list of unclaimed monies for the Clerk’s Office, the Board of County Commissioners, and Tax Deed Funds. If you feel that you have outstanding monies due to you, or if you may have forgotten to collect a deposit or cash a check, please check our website for unclaimed monies and spread the word by informing your friends and family so they can claim their funds.
Finally, our Finance and Accounting Department has completed the 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023! These reports are available for viewing at https://collierclerk.com/finance/reports/. I encourage you to take a few minutes to review these reports and see how our local tax dollars are being spent.
Read and download the full May 2024 Newsletter here.
