Marco Island transportation referendum passes by one vote after recount

A Marco Island referendum proposing $23 million for transportation improvements passed by just one vote after a recount of more than 4,500 ballots. "It was a very contentious topic. I mean, not everybody agreed," said Marco Island resident Steve Stephanides. The referendum asked voters to approve funding for road repairs and the restoration of five bridges across the island. The projects are expected to take a decade to complete and would cost property owners between $48 and $97 annually, depending on property value. "People hate having their taxes go up. But the thing is, the reason why I voted for it is, according to the current math, it would be anywhere from $45 to $65," said Ryan Sullivan, another Marco Island resident. The close vote triggered a state-mandated recount, with machines scanning the ballots and officials completing the process by hand. Some voters expressed concerns about the lack of detailed financial information on the ballot, which they believe contributed to the divide. "They're like, okay, bond. Does this mean that taxes will go up? Or does this mean that this is money that we're getting from the government? It's very unclear," Sullivan said. "This amount of money, and it adds up to this. No, it didn't do that," Stephanides added. After the recount confirmed the results, Collier County Supervisor of Elections said, "It's important for people to trust the process and know that every vote really does count, that it was counted accurately. And the results are the results." Sullivan emphasized the importance of voting, saying, "If you ever think your vote doesn't matter, this passed by one vote. It's like your vote matters." The results will be signed and certified next week at the next canvassing board meeting. 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.