April 2026 Downs Property Digest

Vickie A. Downs
Apr 30
4 min read

A Message from Your Property Appraiser, Vickie A. Downs

Dear Collier County Residents,

As we move further into spring, our office is in the final stages of preparing the 2026 estimated taxable property values, which will be shared with Collier County’s taxing authorities later this month. These early estimates help local governments begin developing their budgets and considering proposed millage (tax) rates.

Property taxes fund essential local services that residents rely on every day. Your total tax bill is distributed among several taxing authorities, each responsible for specific services. Depending on where you live, your property taxes support the School District, Collier County government services, municipalities, fire rescue, water management, and other special districts.

It’s important to remember that while our office determines the value of your property, we do not set millage rates, collect taxes, or decide how tax dollars are spent. Those decisions are made by the taxing authorities.

Later this summer, the proposed millage rates, along with your property’s market, assessed, and taxable values, will appear on your Truth in Millage (TRIM) Notice, which is mailed to all property owners in August. The TRIM Notice will also include public hearing dates where you can speak directly to taxing authorities about their proposed budgets and millage rates.

If you believe the market value of your property is inaccurate, you have the right to file a petition with the Value Adjustment Board (VAB) through the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. For more information, please visit the Clerk’s website. Our office is here to assist you, so before you file a petition, we encourage you to call our office to help you first.

In this month’s newsletter, we take a closer look at property taxes and several important updates affecting Collier County residents. I hope you find this information helpful and informative.

Warmly,

Vickie A. Downs

Collier County Property Appraiser

🏡 Property Tax Discussion & Video Update

Recently, there has been significant public discussion surrounding the possible elimination of property taxes in Florida. To help provide clarity, our office filmed a short informational video explaining what is currently being discussed and what it could mean for residents.

At this time, no legislation has officially passed eliminating property taxes in Florida. While there have been proposals and discussions at the state level, there is currently no final law approved by the Florida Legislature or signed by the Governor eliminating property taxes.

It’s important to understand that property taxes fund many critical services residents depend on every day, including schools, law enforcement, fire districts, water management, and infrastructure.

📹 Watch Vickie’s video update here:👉 https://youtu.be/xOovzCuJaek

Our office remains committed to helping residents understand what is proposed, what is factual, and how future decisions could impact property owners throughout Collier County.

📲 Stay Connected with Our New Text Alerts

We’re excited to announce that the Collier County Property Appraiser’s Office is now offering text message updates for residents and property owners.

Subscribers will receive important reminders, deadlines, office updates, and the latest edition of the Downs Property Digest — all delivered directly to your phone. We’ll typically only text about once per month, and we promise not to spam you. You are able to opt out at any time by replying STOP.

📱 Sign up for text notifications here:👉 https://www.downspropertydigest.com/lead-collection

Stay informed and never miss an important update from our office.

💡Out in the Community

This month, Vickie A. Downs had the opportunity to speak with members of the ROMEO Group in Pelican Bay, where residents asked thoughtful questions about property values, exemptions, and Florida property taxes. Community outreach and education remain a top

priority for our office, and we always appreciate the opportunity to connect directly with residents.

Vickie would also like to extend her heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Donna Fiala, whose passing was deeply felt throughout Collier County. Donna dedicated decades of her life to public service and played an instrumental role in shaping our community. Her kindness, leadership, and commitment to the people of Collier County will never be forgotten.

🗺️ Congressional Redistricting Update

On April 29, 2026, the Florida Legislature voted to approve new congressional maps for the State of Florida. How these maps ultimately hold up following this decision remains unclear and could potentially be decided in court. The proposal now heads to Governor Ron DeSantis for final approval.

What does this mean for Collier County voters?

Under the newly approved proposal, the majority of Collier County residents would now reside within:

Congressional District 19
Congressional District 22

Residents are encouraged to review the proposed maps to better understand where their property may fall.

🗺️ View the proposed maps here:👉 https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/69a85aceed7847d295f78f1c44baff64

💡FAQ Spotlight: Protect Your Property from Fraud

Q: What’s one easy thing I can do to protect my property from fraud?

A: Enroll in the Clerk’s Risk Alert Program.

Scammers can file fake deeds, liens, or mortgages to steal property or delay sales. Collier County residents can now get notified when any document is recorded against their property.

Sign up today to stay protected:👉 https://cor.collierclerk.com/coraccess/alerts

As always, thank you for allowing us to serve you. We’ll see you next month with more updates, resources, and community highlights!

✅ Need Info Now? Check Out Our Website

Whether you're a homeowner or a business owner, we encourage you to visit our office online at collierappraiser.com. You’ll find:

Tools to file for Homestead Exemption
Resources for Tangible Personal Property
FAQs, forms, deadlines, and more
Contact info, office hours, and directions
And now, the option to sign up for this monthly digest straight to your inbox!

We’re working hard to make your experience with our office as smooth and helpful as possible — 24/7. Did you know you can now do a self-service data download for your files? Learn more, along with instructions, on our website at collierappraiser.com.

Invite Us to Speak at Your Next Event

Did you know that educating our community is one of our top priorities? Property Appraiser Vickie A. Downs and our knowledgeable staff love connecting with local residents, real estate professionals, civic groups, and schools to help demystify what our office does — and why it matters. Whether it’s explaining property valuation, homestead exemptions, or how your tax dollars are calculated, we’re here to help! Interested in having a speaker from our office? Email vdowns@collierappraiser.com to request a speaker for your next meeting or event.

Was this email forwarded to you? Want to get the Downs Property Digest delivered to your inbox each month? Subscribe now at DownsPropertyDigest.com.