LWVCC Speaks on Affordable Housing
Janet Hoffman | Published on 2/23/2022
The Collier County Board of Commissioners (BCC) meeting on February 22 was very productive regarding the commissioner’s willingness to take steps to address the housing crisis.
Early in the agenda, during the public comment on general topics section, many of the speakers focused on affordable housing. These speakers were mostly residents who are struggling to be able to afford their rent which has, in the last few years, increased exorbitantly. Some people are paying sixty to ninety percent of their income for their housing. Many workers do not earn enough to pay for the housing costs in Collier County.
During the Affordable Housing portion of the agenda, twenty-eight people, including LWVCC Co-President Janet Hoffman, came to speak about this issue. Joe Trachtenberg, chair of the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, gave an impassioned plea for action. The committee asked for $10 million annually from the general fund to fund the Housing Trust Fund, $20 million from the surtax for the purchase of land, and requested a study on the use of linkage fees on new commercial and industrial construction.
The BCC discussed earmarking 1/10 mil from the budget for housing. The county staff was asked to bring back information on county owned property and eligible parcels for acquisition using the $20 million from the surtax. They were also asked to find potential consultants to perform a Nexus Study to show the relationship between new businesses, the jobs they create, and the potential for a linkage fee. Commissioner McDaniel wants to form a partnership with the school district, fire districts, and cities to possibly use the land owned by these agencies for building housing. The board decided to hold a future special meeting as opposed to a workshop, so that they would be able to vote on housing issues.
The LWVCC presentation was shortened due to the commissioners asking that information not be repeated. Many thanks to the DEI Committee for their research and help with this presentation.