June 2026 Downs Property Digest

Vickie A. Downs
Jun 29
4 min read

A Message from Your Property Appraiser, Vickie A. Downs

Dear Collier County Residents,

Summer has officially arrived in Collier County, and while many of our seasonal residents have returned north for the season, our office remains hard at work preparing for one of the busiest times of the year.

As your Property Appraiser, one of my most important responsibilities is ensuring you have accurate, timely information about issues that affect your property. Whether it's understanding your property value, staying informed on proposed legislation, or knowing what to expect during tax season, my team and I are committed to keeping you informed every step of the way.

This month, we've included information on the proposed Property Tax Amendment that will appear on the November ballot, as well as an overview of what happens as we prepare the 2026 tax roll and what you can expect over the next few months.

Thank you for allowing us to serve you.

Warmly,

Vickie A. Downs

Collier County Property Appraiser

🏡 Property Tax Discussion

As promised, my office is committed to keeping property owners informed about issues that may impact Collier County residents.

Florida voters will consider the proposed Property Tax Amendment (HJR 1F) on the November 3, 2026 General Election ballot.

Here's what you should know:

✅ This is a proposal only and is not currently law.

✅ The amendment must receive at least 60% voter approval to pass.

✅ If approved, any changes would not take effect until January 1, 2027.

✅ The first tax bills reflecting any approved changes would be issued in November 2027.

Our office does not advocate for or against ballot measures. Our responsibility is to provide factual information so property owners understand how proposed legislation may affect them. As additional information becomes available, we will continue to provide updates and educational resources.

🏡 Preparing the 2026 Preliminary Tax Roll

July is one of the most important months of the year for the Property Appraiser's Office.

During July, our office submits the 2026 Preliminary Tax Roll to the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) and to local taxing authorities. Property values are determined based on market conditions as of January 1, 2026, as required by Florida law.

These preliminary values are used by the County, municipalities, School District, and other taxing authorities as they begin developing their budgets and proposing tax rates for the upcoming fiscal year.

Once the Department of Revenue completes its review and proposed tax rates have been established, property owners will receive their Truth in Millage (TRIM) Notice in August.

Your TRIM Notice will include:

Your property's market, assessed, and taxable values.
Any exemptions applied to your property.
Proposed tax rates from each taxing authority.
Dates and times for public budget hearings.

Remember, while our office is responsible for determining property values, we do not set tax rates or collect property taxes. Tax rates are established by your local taxing authorities.

📲 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

June was another busy month connecting with residents throughout Collier County.

Property Appraiser Vickie A. Downs had the opportunity to speak at Youth Leadership Collier, helping educate the next generation about local government and the important role the Property Appraiser's Office plays in serving our community.

Vickie also joined Director of Homestead & Customer Service Annabel at Pelican Bay Men's Coffee, where they shared information about the evolution of the Property Appraiser's Office, recent technology improvements, exemptions, and the many services our office provides. It was a wonderful opportunity to answer questions and engage directly with residents.

As always, if your HOA, civic organization, business group, or community association would like someone from our office to speak at an upcoming meeting, we'd be happy to join you.

💡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.