Collier property tax unchanged

NAPLES — Collier County commissioners' proposed budget for the 2012 fiscal year does not increase the property tax rate, instead reducing spending to maintain balanced books.

The proposed budget for 2012 includes just more than $307 million in spending, down $8 million from the current fiscal year, or 2.6%.

Since the 2007 fiscal year, the county budget has been reduced by $88 million, or 22%.

The bulk of the reductions from 2011 to 2012 will come from the budget for the Sherriff's Office, which will receive $4 million less next year. The county will also continue to cut full-time positions at the County Manager's Agency, which has eliminated 390 positions since the 2007 fiscal year, a 20% reduction in staff.

The Collier Property Appraiser estimates taxable values have fallen 5.1% across the county over the year. Since 2008, taxable value has decreased by $24.2 billion.