Collier infrastructure sales surtax collections surpasses $184M

JENNA BUZZACCO-FOERSTER, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Collier County governments collected more than $30 million in local sales tax revenues during the first three months of 2021, surpassing collections during the same time period in both 2019 and 2020.

Records show nearly $30.4 million came in through local purchases between January and March, with about $27.5 million going to the county and the other $2.9 million to the county’s three municipalities, Naples, Marco Island and Everglades City.

The $13.2 million collected county wide in March is the single largest amount in one month since the sales tax was implemented and dwarfed the $8.9 million and $10.3 million during the same time period in 2020 and 2019, respectively.

In 2018, Collier County voters approved a seven-year, one-cent local option sales surtax. The local option sales surtax is estimated to raise approximately $490 million and will end on Dec. 31, 2025, or when the $490 million is collected. The Greater Naples Chamber supported, and was instrumental in the passage of, the infrastructure sales surtax increase.

Collier County government is expected to receive approximately $420 million for infrastructure projects from the sales tax. The remaining $70 million will be split among the county’s three municipalities.

The county collected more than $184.2 million countywide during the first two years of collections. According to estimates, the county could collect the $490 million in six years if the current rate of collections remains.

Over the past two years, the infrastructure sales surtax oversight committee has reviewed and validated 34 projects. This includes five roadway projects, three hurricane resiliency projects and 21 capital equipment projects.

The infrastructure sales surtax oversight committee is expected to review and validate its first community project, a mental health central receiving facility, when it meets on June 23.

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