New from Sparker's Soapbox: A weekly newsletter sharing news for Collier voters, with an emphasis on local and state government.  

Collier County Government News

1. BCC Approves DLC Enhancement Agreements

After 19 meetings over seven years, Collier County commissioners finalized a partnership with nonprofit David Lawrence Centers to build and run the $56 million Collier County Behavioral Health Center. The Board of County Commissioners on June 10 voted 3-2, with commissioners Bill McDaniel Jr. and Chris Hall opposing. (Gulfshore Business)

2. Seed to Table Code Violation Resolved

Collier commissioners have resolved a second code enforcement case involving a high-profile farmer-grocer. At a board meeting June 10, commissioners voted unanimously to remove the requirement for a gate at the southern end of an employee parking lot for Seed to Table in North Naples, the popular grocery store owned by Alfie Oakes. (Naples Daily News)($)

3. Session Ends, Subject to Vetoes

One of the more-contentious legislative sessions in recent history came to a close late Monday as lawmakers approved a $115.1 billion budget for next fiscal year and prepared to send it to Gov. Ron DeSantis. (News Service of Florida via WUSF)

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4. Budget Lacks Some Top Priorities

The new budget lacks some of the top priorities of legislative leaders and Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, coming in $500 million less than the governor's proposed budget, and $3.5 billion less than last year's adjusted total, a goal of conservative lawmakers focused on scaling back state spending amid concerns of a broader economic slowdown. (AP News)

5. $1.3 Billion in Tax Cuts

The tax package is projected to reduce state and local government revenue by about $1.3 billion next fiscal year. Florida would hold a sales-tax “holiday” each August for back-to-school items, while sales taxes would be eliminated on commercial leases and such things as hurricane supplies and sunscreen, under a tax package that House and Senate leaders released Friday evening. (News Service of Florida via WUSF)

6. No More Commercial Rent Tax

The cornerstone of the final budget is the complete elimination of the sales tax on commercial leases effective October 1, 2025. Florida is the only state in the nation levying such a tax, and the elimination of this tax at the state and local level increases the state's prominence as a top low-tax state. (National Law Review)

7. Tax Cuts Largely Benefit Businesses

A repeal of the business rent tax will cost the state $904.8 million in general revenue annually, while the sales tax cuts that average Floridians could take advantage [of] costs $331 million. (Florida Phoenix)

8. Modified Use of Tourist Tax Scrapped

A proposal to free up hundreds of millions of dollars a year in tourist tax revenue for local governments to spend on mass transit, roads and other projects that benefit Florida residents was scrapped after an intense lobbying campaign by the tourism industry. (Orlando Sentinel)($)

9. Schools of Hope Charter Schools Expansion

A late-session push to expand Florida's "Schools of Hope" program emerged out of Miami, where a billionaire Republican megadonor and other local business leaders want to lure a charter-school group. (Seeking Rents)

10. No Funds for Hope Florida Call Line, Staffers

Legislative leaders agreed not to fund a call line critical for Gov. DeSantis’ Hope Florida program, dealing a blow to one of his signature priorities. They also agreed not to give DeSantis four positions in the governor’s office to create a new Office of Hope Florida. The decisions come amid intense scrutiny by House Republicans into the four-year-old program envisioned by first lady Casey DeSantis, which is intended to move Floridians off of government assistance. (Miami Herald)

11. Ideological Rifts Remain

Much of the feuding this Session — mainly between the House and the Governor — was not focused on how the state could slash spending, but rather how it could gut revenues. Despite Republicans holding a supermajority in both chambers, deep ideological rifts remain over budgeting philosophy and the proper role of government in spending and saving. (Florida Politics)

12. Hurricane Preparedness Amid FEMA Uncertainty

The Trump administration’s talk about drastically altering FEMA’s role in disaster recovery has generated heavy uncertainty. But hurricane season is now in full swing, and with more experience in storm recovery than any other state, Florida’s local emergency management officials are trying to stay focused on staying prepared. (Politico)

13. Florida Insurers Charge More

Collectively, Florida-based property insurers charge significantly higher rates per $1,000 than companies headquartered outside the state charge. Owners of condominium units in Florida pay twice as much per $1,000 to insure their contents than homeowners pay to cover their entire structures and contents. (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)($)

2026 Election News

14. Donalds Has Early Lead in Governor’s Race

A new poll of Florida likely voters found that U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., holds a healthy lead over a potential Democratic challenger for the governor’s mansion with nearly 15 months until election day. (Florida’s Voice)

15. Gun Control a Key Issue for Jolly

Like many Democrats, David Jolly advocates increasing restrictions on firearms to reduce the carnage of gun violence. Simultaneously, he is advancing a strategy to win by talking to voters Democrats often ignore, specifically including gun owners among the constituencies he plans to engage. (Sun Sentinel)

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