Lee County releases annual financial report on tax dollar use

Lee County Clerk & Comptroller Kevin Karnes has released The Sand Dollar, an annual financial report that provides taxpayers with a detailed look at how their tax dollars were collected, managed, and spent during fiscal year 2025, which ran from Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025. The award-winning report is free and designed to be easy to read, outlining trends in property taxes, housing, employment, and major construction projects impacting residents. It also includes information on county revenue and expenses, tourism revenue, investments, and debt. “As good stewards of taxpayer dollars, we owe it to our citizens to make sure they are informed on how their tax dollars are being used. I am committed to transparency, which is why my team produces this financial guide detailing the county’s economic health,” Karnes said. “I really encourage you to either download or pick up a free copy of The Sand Dollar so you can learn all about the state of the county’s finances.” This is the fifth consecutive year the Clerk’s office has released The Sand Dollar. Highlights from this year’s report include: - Lee County’s population has grown by 23.3% since 2016, making it one of the fastest-growing areas in Florida. - The median single-family home sales price decreased by 2.1% over the last fiscal year, while total home sales dropped by 1.1%. - Property tax collections increased by 13.8% since the last fiscal year and 105.8% over the past decade, reaching a record $626.9 million in fiscal year 2025. - Impact fees rose by 2.5% compared to the previous fiscal year. These fees help fund transportation, parks, schools, fire protection, and emergency medical services needed for new developments. The Sand Dollar can be viewed and downloaded at www.leeclerk.org/thesanddollar, and hard copies are available at all county libraries and the Clerk’s offices. The report complements the Clerk’s Sand Dollar Snapshot website, which promotes transparency in government spending by allowing users to view live, multi-year financial data from the Clerk, Board of County Commissioners, and Port Authority. The Sand Dollar Snapshot can be accessed on the Lee County website. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.