Commissioners Approve Budget

The September 21st Collier County Board of Commissioners public hearing set out to amend and finalize the 2024 proposed budget to a packed house. Chairman Rick LoCastro greeted the attendees and announced the meeting would culminate with a formal resolution to do just that. He expressed his support for all who came to participate in the process and emphasized that the meeting’s “most important” purpose was to hear comments and suggestions from the public before confirming the 2024 millage rates that determine the collection and distribution of revenue received from property taxes.

It was quickly obvious from the first public speaker, resident and naturalist Monica Higgins, that the major topic of concern for the evening would be the proposed decrease from the traditional .25 millage allotted yearly to Conservation Collier, a county supported organization that has bought and saved acres of sensitive environmental lands. (A mill is equal to one dollar for every $1,000 in taxable property value.) Ms. Higgins gave an example of a rare sighting of an elusive bird species in what should be a locally protected area that brought hundreds of national and international bird enthusiasts to the area, supporting the local economy. Her response to those who would speak about the human factor with regard to such issues as increased taxation and housing, she feels she is in the majority when she says that this area is already over-developed. Commissioner Burt Saunders commented that he could not argue with this observation. 

It was emphasized by a majority of the speakers, including representatives from related environmental NGO’s, university and research projects and the state and local Audubon Society, that residents of all ages and economic backgrounds have overwhelmingly and consistently supported that portion of their taxes targeted to bolster the area’s ecosystems and protected wetlands and will continue to do so. Former organizations, such as Florida Forever, whose budget was slowly “nibbled away,” no longer exist. Disaster mitigation through visionary partnerships in land management and water resources is a major contribution of these efforts. The backdrop to this debate is the aim of the majority of county officials not to increase taxes.

Rev. Tony Fisher reminded the group that the community needs to “lift up all creation,” and the tension between conservation and development is an age-old dynamic that requires “humility and reverence.” 

The term “roll back” or “rolled-back” designating a situation when property values drop and therefore the total tax revenue drops and the former year’s millage rates may be adjusted temporarily. A rolled-back rate doesn’t increase taxes, rather it is the rate needed to raise the same amount of money as the former year. This formula was rejected by a majority of those speakers who advocated leaving the millage for Conservation Collier the same as it always has been. Many felt it was guaranteed through past commitments and accomplishments. In addition, the transfer of existing funds from the conservation’s acquisition and maintenance funds to offset budget shortfalls would be considered.

There were a few speakers who supported the work of Conservation Collier but were open the possibility of interim millage adjustments. Marco Island City Councilor Rich Blonna broke the situation down to three options, two of which were neither resident nor recipient friendly in his opinion. With the proposed budget, Conservation Collier would still receive $31 Million and Councilor Blonna reiterated that the roll-back is temporary. 

The Commissioners and administrative team then deliberated for several hours on what was presented. They voted for Collier County to go to a rollback rate of .22 mills, which would slightly reduce Conservation Collier's budget.

The efforts of the community to speak to the preservation and continued effective stewardship of land conservation and management made a difference. Deputy County Manager Ed Finn summarized Conservation Collier’s final projected 2024 maintenance reserves after slated transfers would drop to $10 million, and $27 million would still be left in the acquisition fund, which he felt was a “creative solution.”