Raising taxes isn't an acceptable solution when people are hurting from the current economic situation. What should be done is a significant review of the budget to cut expenditures. The County, the Sheriff and the Departtments need to bleed like the rest of us.

Thanks Jim Mudd,
Your timing is impeccable.

Maybe we should out-source some commissioners!!!

"Collier County taxpayers may not see the tax cuts they anticipated"

Wanna bet?
I'm going to hire an independant appraiser to accurately assess my homes value within a few months, then I will file the neccesary paperwork with the tax appraisers office. If enough people do the same they will eventually get the picture that we will not tolerate their nonsense with raising taxes.That their keeping this hardline approach is not acceptable, that we as residents have done enough suffering at the hands of bureaucratic BS and politics. Enough is enough already. Economic times have changed drastically in the last 3 years , it's time to really scale back your spending and give up all your little pet projects. If I could move out of Collier today I absolutely would,but I can't.

I honestly feel if every homeowner went to the tax appraiser and obtained the paperwork to dispute their taxes they would absolutely have to lower them to their corrected levels.
If enough people make their voices heard and hire a property appraiser to assess Collier's overinflated assessments they would have to listen to us and take us seriously.

I think Collier County politicians get a good laugh at us behind closed doors, they tell us what we want to hear publically, and then do what they want irregardless.
I think this year is going to be a mutiny, people are tired of these crazy taxes, 40-45% of which go to state schools and local school morons like Thompson.
If we all band together this year will be different, do yourself a favor and go get an independant tax appraisal on your land and home. It may cost you 300 to 400 bucks now but it will be well worth it in the long run. If enough people with disputes darken the tax appraisers office how can they ignore us?

Its not a few mills that Im concerned about, its the valuation that rose maybe 3-400% over 6 years that can not be matched by renters ability to have same passed along to the landlord...squeezed

Government run amok. After the latest real estate boom of values, there should be huge surpluses across the board. Think practical. Get lean and mean, just as a corporation would do. You, our government, should not be entitled to spending increases just because monies were there in the past. We are facing a new world. Get real.

Naplestrek, Info you seek very likely on line...if not p/u at City Hall and County Seat. Do leg work and fill us in. Look at itemized list growth and level of #'s bodies on payroll, salaries, bennies and pension packs. You're sure to find proof that,,,It's the spending, stupid.

Coletta is finally right! Pave the roads!

This is a promise that was made to us!

There will always be illegals. Let's at least have the roads paved for them!

This just shows that propery taxes are unfair and we really need to look at the sales tax option. We residents keep paying for services used by tourists and the tourists would not mind a 2.5% increase in tax. keep our homes. get rid of the property tax once and for all.
We need proper funding of our fire depts and sales tax could insure a steady amount to preserve these vital services.

"Commissioners tentatively agree to slight increase in Collier’s property tax"

Key word here is "tentatively".
Definition of Tentatively-

1. of the nature of or made or done as a trial, experiment, or attempt; experimental.
2. unsure; uncertain; NOT definite or POSITIVE; hesitant.

In my humble opinion they are testing the waters to see how much backlash there is going to be.
Guess that is up to us to let voices be heard. No voices equals taxes go up, lots of voices equals taxes go down or stay the same.

It seems we need to speak up very soon or forever hold our peace.

Did you ever notice that they never raise taxes in November.

Please go down to government center and take a walk around the floors and observe how much work is really going on. A couple of years ago this building was bustling with work and people -- not so today. Times have changed and it is time to have a mass lay-off within the county. Tax dollars are flying out the window and into peoples accounts who do not have enough work to substantiate their job. I do not want to see people lose jobs, but the time has come to cut the fat. Now this is a good story to follow NDN...... send some covert reporters down there and report back.

I also will be down there getting the proper paperwork, I'm still in shock no one is running against henning. If I'd of known this I would have thrown my name in.
One of the biggest waste of money is Hunters office, excess patrol cars, pensions, excess number of traffic patrolman and the list could go on for pages.