Collier commissioners tentatively approve $3.12B budget, keep tax rate flat

Collier County commissioners tentatively approved a $3.12 billion 2025-26 budget and agreed not to raise taxes next fiscal year.  

In their initial budget hearing Sept. 4, the Board of County Commissioners voted to remain “rate neutral,” agreeing not to tax more than 3.0107 mills for the general fund, leaving the tax rate the same as this year’s. One mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 worth of a property’s taxable value after adjustments, including a homestead exemption. 

The property tax rate will remain the same, but tax revenues will increase because the total taxable value of property has increased. Countywide, it jumped from roughly $152.0 billion to $164.9 billion this year, an 8.49% increase.   

The votes came after a presentation by Christopher Johnson, the county’s director of Financial & Management Services, and a series of past hearings, including workshops with its budget consultant, ResourceX, which has suggested numerous ways to cut costs and improve efficiencies. 

During the budget hearing, commissioners debated a proposal by Commissioner Chris Hall to cut Conservation Collier’s millage rate again, promising to leave the program alone in the future if commissioners agreed. The program acquires properties for conservation and preservation areas from willing sellers.  

If they did that, Johnson explained, the rate would still generate another $10 million for Conservation Collier and about $95 million will still remain in the program’s coffers. 

In September 2023, commissioners borrowed $29.6 million from Conservation Collier and cut its millage rates to cover a more than $60 million shortfall year — prompting an outcry from residents and environmentalists. The intent was to take $53.5 million, but only $29.6 million was used. But it was never paid back and Hall contended it wasn’t a loan. In October 2023, commissioners approved a resolution allowing them to take money from the land-conservation program anytime, if needed.  

Chair Burt Saunders noted that if they cut Conservation Collier’s millage rate again, it might never go back. He noted Marco Island councilors “boasted about how they rolled the millage rate back year-after-year-after-year” and this year, facing necessary infrastructure repairs and improvements, City Council began budget talks by suggesting a 30% tax increase, which has since dropped to 20%, with budget hearings still pending. 

“If we’re not careful, we’re going to be doing the same thing,” Saunders said, adding he’d only support millage neutral and wouldn’t take from Conservation Collier. “… I will not support it because I think that’s really gutting Conservation Collier.” 

Commissioner Bill McDaniel Jr. also opposed taking Conservation Collier funds, noting there are several large land deals pending for the program, while Commissioner Rick LoCastro pointed out voters have repeatedly supported the conservation program and “we’ve tinkered with Conservation Collier quite a bit.” 

And in January, he said, commissioners will meet again with ResourceX to discuss further money-saving alternatives.  

Next year’s budget will be 5.06% higher than the $2.97 billion in this fiscal year’s budget, which ends Sept. 30. The final budget hearing, when rates could change, will be held at 5:05 p.m. Sept. 18 in the third-floor commission chambers, Building F, 3299 Tamiami Trail E.