Featured

Why Incorporating Can Be Golden Gate Estates Best Fiscal Decision. 

Are you wondering if incorporating Golden Gate Estates is a smart move? Look no further! In this blog post, we’ll explore the financial benefits of incorporation, proving that it makes perfect fiscal sense and ensures our community’s quality of life is protected from the out-of-control development on our borders.

What Will It Cost You? The Answer May Surprise You!

The proposed increase in millage from 0.8069 to 1.5 (for an increase of 0.6931 mill) is projected to be a phenomenal return on investment due to State revenue sharing. It’s an increase that is then subject to the Save Our Homes annual cap for homesteaded properties and the 10% annual cap for non-homesteaded properties after the first year.

Based on projected revenue for the first 5 years following incorporation, by investing an additional 0.6931 mills in ad valorem tax (for many under $200) per year to the Town’s millage rate, it is anticipated the Town would reap between $8,390,492 at the lowest and $10,872,698 at the highest in additional State and County revenue sharing per year.

Incorporating is a smart move that not only protects the quality of life for all rural Golden Gate Estates residents but also brings significant financial benefits for the community. By gaining local control over development, budget allocation, and revenue opportunities, we can ensure that our community thrives and prospers.

Now is the time to take action. Don’t let out-of-control development on our borders dictate the future of Golden Gate Estates. Take charge and secure the financial well-being of Golden Gate Estates by signing a petition today to let us vote on the 2024 Ballot.

DISCLAIMER: THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE RETAINS ALL POWER TO ESTABLISH TAXES. THE FIGURES PROPOSED IN THE FEASIBILITY STUDY ARE VERY CONSERVATIVE. THEY ARE NOT BASED ON INCREASED/DECREASED PROPERTY VALUES, RATHER PROJECTED POPULATION GROWTH AS THE TOWN OF GOLDEN GATE ESTATES BECOMES BUILT-OUT

The Proof

REVENUE SOURCES from the recently updated Feasibility Study:
Ad Valorem: 1 mill equals $1 per $1,000 of assessed value.  Unincorporated MSTD assessed at 0.8069 mill. The 2022 Budget projected that the Town area would pay $2,680,642.84 towards the Unincorporated Area MSTD. With an estimated population of 34,266 that computes to $78 per capita.

The Total 2022 Unincorporated Area MSTD revenue was projected to be $62,181,490. With a county population of 347,045, that would equal $179 per capita.  The increase in Ad Valorem tax from 0.8069 mill (unincorporated MSTD) to 1.50 mills (Town), guarantees we can participate in state revenue sharing, which is an integral part to incorporation. State revenue sharing gives the Town feasibility.   See Pages 16 through 18 and Appendix 2 of the Feasibility Study.

FY2026 Ad Valorem revenue is projected to range between $5,051,130 to $5,728,841
FY2027 projected to range between $5,085,016 to $5,898,269
FY2028 projected to range between $5,118,901 to $6,067,697
FY2029 projected to range between $5,152,787 to $6,237,12

Municipal Revenue Sharing Program:
MRSP – distributes part of net sales and use tax and the one-cent municipal fuel tax to qualified municipalities. Fuel tax portion must be used for transportation-related expenditures. Distribution of these proceeds is based on an apportionment factor Projections are based on City of Naples per capita revenue expected for FY2022, adjusted for Town’s population growth. See Page 18 and Appendix 3 of the Feasibility Study.
FY2025 – partial tax revenue, once Town qualifies for revenue sharing
FY2026 – $1,698,928 to $1,882,516
FY2027 – $1,710,402 to $1,939,887
FY2028 – $1,721,877 to $1,997,259
FY2029 – $1,733,351 to $2,054,630

Local Government Half-Cent Sales Tax Program delivers shares of state sales tax to local governments, together with revenue from Community Services Tax. Formula per page 18 of the Feasibility Study implies allocation factor of 0.0798 (7.98%) for Town. FY2023 Collier County distribution is projected to be $64.7 million. Town would have received $5.2 million of that amount. Collier County anticipates lower revenue from this program, so it is estimated that the Town would receive anywhere from $4.2 million to $5.2 million per year from this source. Projections for 2025 (6 months) would be half that amount. See pages 18- 19 of Feasibility Study.
FY2025 – partial tax revenue, once Town qualifies for revenue sharing
FY2026 – $4,200,000 to $5,200,000
FY2027 – $4,200,000 to $5,200,000
FY2028 – $4,200,000 to $5,200,000
FY2029 – $4,200,000 to $5,200,000

Public Service Tax PST – [Optional Tax] a sales tax on utilities, can be up to 10%. Charter counties can levy this tax. Collier County is a non-Charter County, so this tax is not levied in the unincorporated areas. 
The Feasibility study assumes that the Town will not assess this tax.
Projections are included, should the Town determine it wants to assess this tax. Bulk of tax revenue would come from taxes on electricity, since Town does not have gas or water service. Naples assesses 7% on electricity and gas utilities, Marco Island does not assess PST and Everglades City assesses 8% on electricity, some gas products, and water. Southwest Ranches (similar rural character with larger homes) assesses 10%. See Pages 19-20 and Appendix 4 of the Feasibility Study. IF Town decides to assess 10% projected PST revenue would be:
FY2025 – $2,838,370 to $3,145,087
FY2026 – $2,857,540 to $3,240,936
FY2027 – $2,876,709 to $3,336,786
FY2028 – $2,895,879 to $3,432,635
FY2029 – $2,915,049 to $3,528,484

NOTE: THESE REVENUE PROJECTIONS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE 5 YEAR REVENUE AND EXPENSE PROJECTIONS, BUT JUST USED TO SHOW A POTENTIAL REVENUE SOURCE.

Local Option Fuel Tax – 3 components 2 required to be shared by Counties with municipalities, 1 to 6 cent local option fuel tax (used for transportation maintenance and operations) and the 1 to 5 cents local option fuel tax (used for transportation capital improvements). Collier County levies at the highest rate, 6 cents and 5 cents, respectively. See Pages 20-21 and Appendix 5 of the Feasibility Study. FY 2025 = 0 (no revenue until 1 year after incorporation, so County will receive that revenue).
FY2026 – $2,103,989 to $2,683,982
FY2027 – $2,103,989 to $2,683,982
FY2028 – $2,103,989 to $2,683,982
FY2029 – $2,103,989 to $2,683,982

Communication Services Tax CST – sales tax on communication services, such as, voice, data, audio, video or other communications. State and local components. Local component can be as high as 5.22%. Collier County levies 2.1% for unincorporated area. Marco is 2.1%, Naples is 5.22% and Everglades City is 3.9%. See Page 21 and Appendix 6 of the Feasibility Study FY2025 – partial tax revenue, once Town qualifies for revenue sharing
FY2026 – $402,835 to $888,539
FY2027 – $405,537 to $914,817
FY2028 – $408,240 to $941,095
FY2029 – $410,942 to $967,373

Additional sources of Revenue which were not included in the projected revenue or municipal expenses are planning, zoning and permit fees, as well as the Local Option Infrastructure Sales Tax (the so called “penny tax), which has reached its anticipated goal and will expire prior to incorporation.

Featured

Welcome

Welcome to the official blog of Save the Estates, where the Board of Directors extends a warm welcome to our new digital home. We are thrilled to embark on this journey with you as we educate and inform our community about the exciting road to incorporating Golden Gate Estates as its own municipality. Our aim is to create a vibrant, self-governing community, drawing inspiration from the successful model of our neighboring town, Southwest Ranches.

 

Together, through your support, generous donations, active participation as Get Out The Vote volunteers, and dedicated efforts, we are working tirelessly to transform the vision of the Town of Golden Gate Estates into a reality.

 

Why Incorporate? Here’s a Glimpse of the Benefits:

 

1. Local Control and Representation:
Incorporation empowers us to have a direct say in local matters, ensuring that decisions made about our community are in line with our values and aspirations. We will have the opportunity to elect local representatives who truly understand and represent our interests, amplifying our collective voice and fostering a strong sense of community.

2. Enhanced Services and Infrastructure:
As a municipality, we can focus on improving community services, such as libraries, parks, and recreation centers, tailored to the specific needs and desires of Golden Gate Estates residents. Additionally, incorporating enables us to drive infrastructure enhancements, including improvements in internet connectivity, cell towers, cable, fiber, roads, electric utility, and hurricane power mitigation plans. We are committed to ensuring that our community thrives in every aspect.

3. Fiscal Responsibility and Local Reinvestment:
Through incorporation, we gain greater control over our financial resources. This allows us to promote responsible spending, minimize wastefulness, and ensure that more of our tax dollars and fees stay within our community. With increased local reinvestment, we can address critical needs, implement community initiatives, and create a sustainable future for Golden Gate Estates.

4. Preserving Our Unique Identity:
Incorporation provides us with the opportunity to safeguard the charm and tranquility that define Golden Gate Estates. By discouraging dense development within our boundaries and encouraging responsible growth closer to the urban core, we can maintain the spaciousness and natural beauty that make our community truly exceptional.

Current Progress and Community Engagement:
We are currently at an exciting stage in our journey. The Feasibility Study and Town Charter have been prepared and are now ready for review by our legislators. The next steps involve community outreach and education, where we will engage with legislators and community leaders to advocate for the Town of Golden Gate Estates. Our FAQ’s section on this website is a valuable resource to begin your education on the subject. We encourage you to explore, comment, and ask questions as we build a well-informed community.

 

Sign our Petition:
If you believe in the vision of a self-governing Golden Gate Estates, we invite you to show your support by signing our petition. Every signature counts and strengthens our case as we demonstrate the collective desire for incorporation.

 

Conclusion:
The path to municipal incorporation is an ambitious one, but together, with your support and engagement, we can make it a reality. Stay tuned to our blog for regular updates, informative articles, and opportunities to get involved. Let’s embark on this transformative journey, united in our vision for a prosperous and self-governing Golden Gate Estates.

Someone is telling very bad lies about a very good concept.

I will date myself, but back in the 70s, there was a rumor that Bubble Yum bubble gum had spider eggs in it. My friends and I recognized it was a rumor and enjoyed the very popular gum despite the tall tales that a girl woke up with a spider web on her face and another kid was vomiting baby spiders. Life Savers, the company that created Bubble Yum, took out a full page ad in the New York Times which stated “Someone is telling very bad lies about a very good product” and then went on to dispel those lies. I feel I have to dispel some lies being spread about incorporation.

Your taxes will double. Not true, the State Legislature has final say in all tax matters within the State of Florida. If the Town were to propose a doubling of taxes, the State would say “no.” The Feasibility Study proposes just enough of a tax increase (0.6931 mills) to allow the Town to participate in State revenue sharing of taxes we already pay. The state collects gas taxes, cell phone taxes, internet service provider taxes, utility taxes and sales taxes and then reallocates those taxes to local municipalities. Since GGE is not a municipality, the County receives those taxes on our behalf and they determine how and where those tax dollars are spent across the entire Unincorporated Area. By incorporating, the Town would receive that revenue directly. That additional revenue can be used to improve cell, internet and cable services, improve local roads and swales and enhance community services out here in GGE.

Only the State can decide where something will be built in GGE, a Town cannot overrule the State in zoning matters. Again, not true. Zoning and Planning are local government functions. Since Golden Gate Estates is part of the unincorporated portion of Collier County, our local government is the County Commission. Once incorporated, the local council will have authority over all matters involving zoning and planning. The Town will have 2 years to draft and enact a comprehensive plan. A great start would be to utilize the Master Plan which was completely revised in 2019 and amended in 2021.

The 5 council members have already been chosen. This one defies logic. The 5 council members will be elected in a special election following the incorporation ballot. Any registered voter, who has resided in the Town of GGE for 2 years prior to the special election qualifying timeframe, can run for a seat. The Municipal Charter proposes campaign finance limits to ensure that any registered voter (and not just someone backed by big money) can run for office.

We will need to get our own police force, fire services, garbage collection, etc. after Incorporation. False. The General Fund funds the services of the 5 constitutional officers (Sheriff, Court Clerk, Tax Appraiser, Tax Collector and Supervisor of Elections), regional parks and libraries, landscaping, county roads and swales, all County-wide services, county personnel, Growth Management Capital Funds, etc. None of those will change after incorporation. Our Fire Districts are independent special districts and are funded separately through ad valorem funds (separate line on your tax bill). Garbage collection will continue with Waste Management, it is a separate item on the tax bill under non ad valorem funds. State statute prohibits cancelling the garbage collection contract. City of Naples, Everglades City and Marco Island all pay for Waste Management on their taxes as does everyone else in the County. The only change will be to the Unincorporated MSTD. The Town will no longer participate in that and will retain those dollars, add a little increase and be eligible to participate in State revenue sharing. State revenue sharing is key to incorporation and will provide the bulk of funds needed to run the Town.

Incorporation will add an additional layer of government bureaucracy. False. Incorporation would separate the roles of local governance vs.  county-wide governance. The Town would handle local issues, such as zoning and planning, maintaining and improving local roads (with State gas tax revenue), community services, improving telecommunications (with State communication services tax revenue) utilizing a Government Lite model, which has proven to be successful in a number of recently incorporated areas of Florida. The County will continue to govern county-wide issues and provide the county-wide services outlined above.

What rumors have you heard that you’d like to dispel?

“We’re 100% consistent with that agreement,” Yovanovich said.

Laura Layden

Naples Daily News USA TODAY NETWORK – FLORIDA

Plans for a new town in the eastern stretches of Collier County have cleared another regulatory hurdle.

On Thursday, the county’s Planning Commission voted unanimously in favor of the vast development, east of Golden Gate Estates.

The advisory board’s recommendation now heads to the county commission for a final decision. It requires a majority vote for approval.

The town, known as Big Cypress, would take the place of a village named Longwater.

The county greenlighted the village in 2021. It’s one of a trio of approved villages proposed by the same developer off Oil Well Road.

The new town would serve the residents of the other two villages, Rivergrass and Bellmar, as well as its own dwellers, providing more retail, commercial and recreational options, community and government services and job opportunities close to home.

Centered in and around the two villages, the town would span more than 1,544 acres. It would include:

● 2,427 to 4,432 single-family and multifamily homes

● 753,440 to 1,390,000 square feet of commercial uses

● 66,480 to 86,000 square feet of civic uses Within the town, the developer has agreed to set aside:

● More than 88 acres for affordable housing

● About 28 acres for an elementary school

● Almost 44.5 acres for a public park

● Nearly 14 acres for neighborhood parks A second school site would be provided offsite.

In addition to the more traditional community and neighborhood parks the development would offer miles of pedestrian friendly sidewalks, boardwalks, and pathways.

More than 46% – or more than 716 acres – would remain open space, exceeding the county’s requirements by 175.5 acres. The required percentage is 35%.

The town would have multiple amenity centers, which could include pools, clubhouses and fitness centers.

Town encouraged by county

Collier County’s planners encouraged Collier Enterprises, the initial applicants for the three villages, to build a new town, with the goal of putting goods, services and employment closer to its rural residents, promoting self sufficiency and reducing traffic and other impacts on nearby communities.

Since filing the application, Collier Enterprises has been acquired by The Tarpon Blue Family of Cos., which has pushed ahead with the villages, and town concept.

At the Planning Advisory Board hearing, Rich Yovanovich, a land use attorney for Tarpon Blue, emphasized that the request is not for a rezoning, but rather for the conversion of a village to a town, and for the expansion of its boundaries to allow for more commercial development.

The already approved “sending area” for Longwater – which stretched nearly 1,000 acres – would grow by nearly 545 acres to form a town.

The proposed town and villages are located in the Rural Lands Stewardship Area, or RLSA. The rules for developing the area are found in Collier’s Growth Management Plan.

In his arguments for a favorable recommendation, Yovanovich said the town met all of the restrictions and rules in the county’s Growth Mangement Plan and land development code – and even exceeded some requirements, so he saw no reason for denying it.

“This is a designation,” he said. “And not a rezone of the property.”

What is the RLSA?

The stewardship area encompasses 185,000 acres around Immokalee with the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge to the south and the Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest to the north.

The voluntary RLSA program allows developers to build more intense towns and villages on property with lower conservation value, in exchange for preserving more environmentally sensitive land, through a credit system. It’s designed to prevent urban sprawl, addressing state concerns about the protection of wildlife and wetlands dating back to the 1990s.

Otherwise, ranchettes can be built on every 5 acres under the current zoning.

County reviewers recommended approval of the town.

The land for the town has been in agricultural use for decades. It’s been used for row crops and pastures.

County commissioners gave a thumbs up to the town in concept in June 2021, when it approved Longwater and Bellmar.

“We’re 100% consistent with that agreement,” Yovanovich said.

One of the requirements: To establish fiscal neutrality, which the developer did through an independent assessment. The assessment shows the town will pay for itself when fully developed, with no additional burden on county taxpayers for the services and infrastructure it will require, from roads to water and sewage.

Town divided into zones

The town would be divided into five context zones.

A Neighborhood Zone would make up 80% of the town, with a mix of housing, neighborhood-scale goods and services, parks, schools, recreational uses and open space, taking up more than 1,234 acres.

Here’s the breakout for the other zones:

● Town Core – The most dense and diverse zone with a fullrange of uses and the most activity. Size: About 35.6 acres.

● Town Center – A less dense zone with a wide range of uses including goods andservices, culture/entertainment andhousing. Size: Nearly 21 acres.

● Business Park – A large zone with office, light industrial and lightmanufacturing uses in a park-like setting. Size: Roughly 165 acres.

● Affordable Housing – A zone for low andmoderate income housing, located inareas next to educational orcommercial uses. Size: Approximately 88.2 acres.

Plans include 882 affordable housing units on two sites.

The town has a 20-year build out.

A change of heart?

Planning Commission chairman Edwin Fryer voted against Longwater in 2021. At the time, he raised concerns the village could burden the county – and taxpayers.

Fryer came to a different conclusion about the town after spending an “extensive amount of time” with county staff and management to understand the net benefit of the new town.

He ticked off half a dozen points to explain his change of heart, including the conservation of more land, the inclusion of more commercial and light industrial development, a “very real” commitment to provide affordable housing and the ability to reduce the traffic and “wear and tear” on existing public roads through the “internal capture” of residents by meeting their essential needs.

Vice chairman Joe Schmitt moved to the approve the petition. A second came from Randall Sparrazza, who suggested that it might be good to involve Habitat for Humanity in the development of affordable housing in the town.

Several neighbors spoke in opposition to the petition, raising concerns about the town’s impact on traffic, wildlife and their peaceful way of life in the rural estates.

Town still faces opposition

Matthew Schwartz, executive director of the South Florida Wildlands Association, continued to oppose the project, and the RLSA program in general.

He’s argued the land is still prime habitat for the Florida panther and the county has not considered the environmental impacts enough. Once again he suggested the county hold a public workshop to hear from biologists with U.S. Fish and Wildlife about any concerns they may have about the RLSA program and the cumulative impact of 45,000 acres of new development.

In reply, Schmitt emphasized the data is the data and the rules are the rules. To suggest the RLSA program is flawed, or the county should start all over again, he said, is unreasonable and unrealistic.

“That’s just not going to happen,” Schmitt said.

He pointed out the plans will be subject to reviews by state and federal agencies, and the South Florida Water Management District, which will consider its environmental impacts. That includes the Army Corps of Engineers, which will have to approve a permit.

The petition is expected to go before county commissioners for a vote this summer.

Is this the transparency we should accept from our local government?

“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” 

– Mark Twain

The Board of County Commissioners on November 8th approved an ordinance (Ordinance 2022-44) to the LDC Amendment changing the distance of Mailed Written Public Notice Requirement for Variance Applications reduced from 1 Mile down to 1,000 feet For All Estates (E) Zoned Properties Located in the Rural and Urban Golden Gate Estates Sub-Elements of the Golden Gate Area Master Plan

Is this the transparency we should accept from our local government?

Just another reason to incorporate the Golden Gate Estates.

Get involved.

Do you really trust the Guard?


Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason.

– Mark Twain

Yesterday, Collier Board of County Commissioners meeting was held under threat of an impending hurricane while families were boarding up protecting their properties and livelihoods and today the community takes its beating from Ian. This storm provides the ironic backdrop of our future if we don’t address the issue at hand. Our county political machine is actively trying to grind us one commission meeting at a time into the pavement having little regard for its peon’s except for the annual penance we provide to feed the machine, while underhandedly re-engineering the landscape one HOA or high density apartment complex at time. Where does it end?  

The developers act like high pressure used car salesmen threatening that if the growth management plan amendment was not approved immediately, Immokalee Road Rural Village, the proposed 4,000 home densely populated HOA community, the needed wildlife corridor, and the 400 units of ‘affordable’ housing would not be built. This is nothing short of blackmail by the developer to get this development approved, while in the same breath the admitting the project may not be economically feasible.

Overshadowing this vote was possible conflict of interest issues, as reported by Gulf Shore Business and our local WINK News, by the current chairman of the board of County Commissioner’s foreclosed parcels in the project, he cast his vote in the affirmative.

Affordable housing is a developer’s “carrot’ that’s used to change the Growth Management Plan claiming it is the only option, the Golden Gate Estates residents are being sold out to greedy developers by commissioners that have little regard for our community.

The solution through this madness is Incorporation, please take a moment participate in our survey. and review the proposed Town Charter, the team has made effort to spell out the long term desires of the community and address the potential conflict of interest. Note that these rules can only be changed by a referendum vote to prevent changes without the express support from the community.

Excerpts from the Charter:

1.(b) It is intended that this Charter and the incorporation of the Golden Gate Estates area will serve to preserve, enhance, and protect the rural residential character, natural resources, and quality of life of the community.

6.(b) No variances, re-zonings, or land use modifications may come before the Council which would inure to a Council member or mayor’s special private gain or loss; which he or she knows would inure to the special private gain or loss of any principal by whom he or she is retained or to the parent organization or subsidiary of a corporate principal by which he or she is retained; or which he or she knows would inure to the special private gain or loss of a relative or business associate of the public officer, until that Council member or mayor is no longer serving on the Council.

Information is key

It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes

As a community, we need to be equally or more educated about municipalities in the state of Florida than our critics.

Cars and Cats don’t mix

a black panther on brown grass

Another endangered Florida panther has died after being struck by a vehicle.

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS
SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 / 10:29 AM / AP

Lets add 40,000 more vehicle trips to the county roads, a failing infrastructure, and see how well that turns out.