An independent analysis of the Collier Mosquito Control District's certified annual budgets from FY 2022–23 through FY 2025–26. The district's total budget grew 66% in three years. Every chart below is built from data your tax dollars already funded. It should have always been this visible.
This is not an audit. It is the kind of analysis any commissioner with genuine oversight intent should be able to produce and present at a public meeting.
No other candidate has put this data in front of you. These charts are built directly from the district's own FDACS-certified budgets. This is what informed oversight looks like.
The district's total budget has grown by $24 million — a 66% increase in just three years. While some growth reflects capital investment cycles, the pace and scale demand active board oversight and clear public justification. This is not a criticism it is exactly the conversation a functioning board should be having.
Personnel costs (salaries + benefits) rose 58%. Chemical spend is up 25% — consistent with the mission. But the most striking shift: Capital Outlay jumped from $5.2M to $22.6M — a 333% increase. The certified budget contains no public itemization of what was purchased. A sitting board member should be asking for that list by name, at every meeting.
The district is entirely locally funded, no state dollars. That means Collier County property taxpayers are the sole source of accountability. And it means the Board must answer to you, not Tallahassee.
In FY 2025–26, $32 million of the total budget comes from prior-year fund balance carried forward not from new tax revenue. This is a legitimate budget mechanism, but it raises a long-term sustainability question: is the district spending down reserves faster than it replenishes them? This deserves a straight answer at a public board meeting.
A real board member doesn't just approve a budget. They ask why each line moved, and whether the answer is satisfactory. Here is a full three-year comparison with analytical commentary on every major category.
| Budget Category | FY 2022–23 | FY 2024–25 | FY 2025–26 | 3-Yr Change | Oversight Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Services (Salaries) | $4,082,749 | $5,929,004 | $6,447,716 | +58% | Staffing growth — FTE headcount not disclosed in certified budget |
| Personal Services Benefits | $2,957,186 | $3,559,611 | $3,827,573 | +29% | Benefits rising faster than CPI — what's driving the increase? |
| Chemicals | $4,000,000 | $4,620,000 | $4,989,600 | +25% | Core mission cost — is this volume growth or price inflation? |
| Capital Outlay | $5,224,500 | $19,977,600 | $22,637,875 | +333% | 🔴 Largest shift in budget — no public itemization in certified docs |
| Insurance | $444,389 | $710,001 | $764,801 | +72% | Florida insurance market impacting public agencies statewide |
| Repairs & Maintenance | $1,179,600 | $918,450 | $872,550 | −26% | Declining while assets grow — deferred maintenance risk? |
| Contingency (Current Year) | $2,067,533 | $3,556,659 | $2,000,000 | Volatile | Large swings — what formula or policy drives this? |
| Training | $192,705 | $191,562 | $367,090 | +90% | Significant FY26 jump — new certifications? New equipment? |
| Interest Earnings | $75,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | +1,233% | Higher rates + large cash balances — positive for taxpayers |
| Reserves (Total Ending Balance) | $12,739,915 | $8,036,820 | $14,868,734 | +17% | Dipped in FY25 then recovered — volatility warrants explanation |
No other candidate has put this level of budget analysis in front of Collier County voters. As your commissioner, I will publish an updated dashboard every budget cycle, ask these questions on the record at every public meeting, and make sure your tax dollars are visible — not just certified.