May 2026 Downs Property Digest

Vickie A. Downs
2 days ago
4 min read

A Message from Your Property Appraiser, Vickie A. Downs

Dear Collier County Residents,

As your Collier County Property Appraiser, one of my top priorities has always been advocating for fairness and helping taxpayers understand the property tax system. I know many homeowners throughout Collier County are concerned about rising costs, and I strongly support efforts that provide meaningful tax relief to Florida families.

Recently, Governor Ron DeSantis announced a Special Session focused on property tax reform and potential changes to Florida’s homestead property tax structure. While these discussions continue at the state level, I believe it is important that residents stay informed and understand how any future changes could impact their homes and businesses.

Our office will continue monitoring these discussions closely and providing clear, accurate information every step of the way. My commitment remains the same: serving Collier County with transparency, accessibility, and a focus on protecting homeowners and taxpayers.

Thank you for allowing my team and me to serve you.

Warmly,

Vickie A. Downs

Collier County Property Appraiser

🏡 Property Tax Discussion

Governor Ron DeSantis announced a Special Session of the Florida Legislature during the week of June 1 to consider a constitutional amendment aimed at property tax relief for Florida homeowners.

The proposal, called “Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes,” includes several major components intended to reduce property taxes and provide long-term relief for homesteaded properties.

Key Highlights of the Proposal:

🏡 Increased Homestead Exemption

The proposal would exempt the first $250,000 of a homestead property’s value from taxation, with a framework for future elimination of homestead property taxes through general law.

🚔 Funding for Essential Services

Remaining property tax revenues would be directed toward core services such as:

Public safety

Education and schools

Infrastructure

Natural resource protection

🏢 Small Business Protections

The proposal would also seek to limit future assessment increases on businesses to create a more stable tax environment for local businesses.

🌴 Residency Requirements

Under the proposal, individuals establishing Florida residency after January 1, 2027, may be required to maintain Florida residency for up to five years before receiving the increased homestead exemption.

💰 State Trust Fund for Local Governments

A new state trust fund would be created to assist local governments with maintaining core services if property tax revenues decrease.

What Happens Next?

The Governor’s proposal will be considered during the upcoming Special Session. If approved by the Legislature, the constitutional amendment could appear on the ballot for Florida voters later this year.

At this time, no changes have been made to current property tax laws or exemptions. Our office will continue monitoring developments closely and will provide updates as additional information becomes available.

Homestead Reminder

If you recently purchased a home and made it your permanent residence, remember to review your Homestead Exemption status and ensure your information with our office is up to date.

For questions about exemptions, property values, or records, our team is always here to help.

📲 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

Community outreach continues to be an important part of what we do. This month, members of our team attended the NABOR Realtor Expo, where we had the opportunity to connect with real estate professionals and answer questions about exemptions, property values, and services our office provides.

We also continued meeting with several HOAs and community groups throughout Collier County to help residents better understand the property assessment process and stay informed on important deadlines and updates.

🗺️ Congressional Redistricting Update

On April 29, 2026, the Florida Legislature voted to approve new congressional maps for the State of Florida. These have been signed into law.

What does this mean for Collier County voters?

Under the newly approved maps, 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 new 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.