LCTC Expansion Update, Summer 2023

Tax Collector logo with skyline, palm trees and houseOver the past few years Lee County has experienced tremendous growth and all indicators point to that continuing. In response, we have been working with Lee County to create plans for expansion.

In early 2024, we will move from our current location in Lehigh Acres to larger office space at the corner of Homestead and Milwaukee. The new service center will be 9,640 square feet with 24 stations and be the first to have a children’s area with small activities. The design will be fresh and modern, getting away from the “government looking” office space. Construction has begun, and when complete, we will join the Supervisor of Elections, Department of Health, and the Lee County Clerk of Courts in this building.

In 2024 we were also planning on opening a new location in Estero at the Miromar Outlets. Lee County was negotiating that contract as the space was being leased to them. Unfortunately, due to rising remodeling costs, the contract between Lee County and Miromar Outlets was terminated, which means we will not be opening a service center at that location.

Our office is committed to creating an infrastructure that will enable us to meet the growing demands of our customers and continue to excel in our industry. We are currently re-evaluating the needs of our community for future locations and will continue to share updates as we have them.

What is a TRIM Notice?

August in Florida is known for heat… humidity… and of course, TRIM notices!

TRIM Notices are required to be mailed no later than August 25 to all property owners. But what is a TRIM notice and why is it important?

It’s origin dates back to 1980 when the Florida Legislature passed the Truth in Millage (TRIM) Act. That act required all Property Appraisers to mail property owners a notice of proposed taxes. TRIM notices include information about:

  • The current “Just Value” of your property
  • Approved exemptions
  • The governmental entities responsible for your taxes and
  • The amount you owe each entity based on the value of your property

TRIM notices are mailed after proposed millage rates (tax rates) are set, but before taxing authorities take a final vote. That’s why the notice provides public
hearing dates, as well as contact information for each taxing authority, in case you would like to provide input before a final vote is taken.

TRIM notices are also important because they give you time to ask questions about the value of your property or the exemptions approved for the property.
They also provide information on how to appeal the property’s value or a denial of exemption. Questions related to property values and exemptions on TRIM
notices should be directed to the Property Appraiser.

Something else that’s very important? TRIM notices are NOT A BILL. Every year we get people coming into our offices to try and pay their TRIM notice. These
are for information only; nothing needs to be paid until you receive your official tax bill which is mailed in late October.

And speaking of Tax Bills, your tax bill will not match your TRIM notice. In most cases your tax bill will be higher. That’s because TRIM notices do NOT include
Non-Ad Valorem taxes, which are assessments based on services (not property values) provided to you. Examples include stormwater or solid waste
assessments. Thus, your TRIM notice will never match your tax bill because your tax bill will include those assessments.

So, when you receive your TRIM notice from the Property Appraiser, please open it and read it carefully. I hope this information is helpful and explains why
TRIM notices are important and how they differ from your tax bill.

Thank you for allowing me and my team to serve you. It is an honor.


Noelle Branning
Lee County Tax Collector

Lee County Tax Collector Named a Local Government Champion by AWS

Tax Collector and CIO receiving AWS awardThe Lee County Tax Collector’s (LCTC) Office has been honored as an Amazon Web Services (AWS) Local Government Champion for its use of AWS services to transform the customer experience in the agency’s call center.

In FY22, the LCTC call center received over 350,000 phone calls. External feedback suggested improvements were needed to better serve customers. LCTC turned to AWS to improve productivity, enhance reporting and feedback tools, and provide flexibility.

“Working with AWS has changed the game for our customers, and for us,” explains Noelle Branning, Lee County Tax Collector. “The number of customers we have been able to help has increased, while the wait times have decreased. Plus, we can now track data to help us continually improve and provide 5-star service to our customers.”

“AWS is proud to recognize Lee County Tax Collector as a luminary of state and local government technology,” said Kim Majerus, Vice President of Global Education and U.S. State and Local Government at AWS.  “Noelle Branning and her team saw an opportunity to innovate on behalf of the citizens of Lee County using technology and used it to transform the services they provide to the public.”

Other innovations launched by the Lee County Tax Collector in the last year include: surrender plate drop boxes, Customer Care Carts, a new website, a digital customer service agent named Edison who can answer questions 24/7 at LeeTC.com, a queuing system where customers can check in on their phones and receive text notification updates about their visit, and a Smart Locker system to provide vehicle and vessel dealers next day turnaround on their title and registration documents.

LCTC IMPACT REPORT FY 22-23

We are proud to share the inaugural publication of the Lee County Tax Collector’s Impact Report.

This report is a comprehensive overview of our agency’s activities, achievements, and financial performance for FY22 which ran from October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022.

Our office plays a vital role in ensuring the proper collection and distribution of taxes within Lee County. In addition, we act as agents for:

Our mission is to deliver 5-star service quickly and efficiently through an organizational culture that values customers, team, and community. With the objective of fostering transparency, we have developed this impact report to provide you a comprehensive view of our operations.

 

LEE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR DOUBLES THE NUMBER OF ROAD TEST LOCATIONS

As of June 8, we are doubling the number of service centers providing road tests for those wishing to obtain their Florida driver license. Currently road tests are offered at our North and South locations, now they are being offered in Bonita Springs and Cape Coral as well.

“We started the push with the Florida Department of Highway Safety (FLHSMV) last fall to have more service
centers offer road tests,” explains Lee County Tax Collector Noelle Branning. “At that time, we were experiencing heightened demand caused by a growing population, and we knew that would continue.”

Prior to implementing a road test course, the FLHSMV must review and approve all plans. “Road tests require candidates to complete certain maneuvers and we have to show that the locations we are proposing meet those requirements,” says Branning. “Both our Cape Coral and Bonita Springs locations did that, and we are thrilled to be able to provide our customers with more opportunities to test for their Florida driver licenses.” 

Customers who need to take a road test should make an appointment

Lee County Tax Collector Road Test Locations:

  • Bonita Springs:                25987 Tamiami Trail S., Bonita Springs
  • Cape Coral:                       1039 SE Ninth Avenue, Cape Coral
  • North Fort Myers:            15201 North Cleveland Avenue, North Fort Myers
  • South Fort Myers:            15680 Pine Ridge Road, Fort Myers

TWO NEW INITIATIVES TO SAVE CUSTOMERS TIME

It’s now easier to surrender your license plates!

Located outside of each of the six service centers throughout Lee County, customers can use these secure boxes to turn in unused license plates. Simply take a pre-printed envelope from the container on either side of the box, fill out the information, place the
license plate inside the envelope and drop it into the box.

No more waiting in line! Plates turned in by 4 p.m. on business days will be processed the same day with a receipt mailed to the address on record. 

Specialty License Plate Pre-Sale Vouchers

After the Florida Legislature approves a new specialty license plate, the sponsoring organization must sell a certain number of pre-sale vouchers within 24 months before the new plate is manufactured and made available to Florida drivers.

Now, customers will be able to purchase those vouchers directly from our website, LeeTC.com without having to come into an office. 

“These are exciting new additions in a series of innovations we have made to help achieve our mission of providing 5-star service to customers quickly and efficiently,” explains Tax Collector Noelle Branning. “We continuously look for ways to enhance a customer’s experience, while providing excellent government service.

Learn about other innovations launched in the last eight months that include a new website, a digital customer service agent who can answer questions 24/7 at LeeTC.com, a queuing system where customers can check in on their phones and wait where they want while monitoring their place in line in real-time, and a Smart Locker system to provide vehicle and vessel dealers next day turnaround on their title and registration documents.

Excellence, efficiency and enhancing the customer experience

Excellence, efficiency and enhancing the customer experience are what we strive for when we launch a new project or initiative. Over the past year we have been busy implementing programs to better serve you and our community.

New Queuing System – In August we launched a new queuing system in every Lee County service center. Customers can now schedule multiple services with just one appointment. The system’s virtual queuing feature allows customers to check in on their phones and wait where they want while monitoring their place in line. When it’s their turn, customers receive an email or text message notification. The system also captures customer feedback and makes it immediately accessible to our team, allowing them to adjust business processes to optimize customer service.

Customer Printers – This year we installed wireless printers at each service center so if you forget to print a document, you can send it to our printer using your personal device and we will print it for you. No more having to run home to find it!

Smart Lockers – This year we implemented a Smart Locker system where vehicle dealers can drop off and pick up their work 24/7 in a secured lockbox. Worked dropped off by 2 p.m. on a business day will be turned around the next day.

This helps dealers get the documents they need quickly, while freeing up appointment slots so other customers can get their transactions completed as well.

LeeTC.com – In December 2022 we launched our redesigned website. With the goal of putting customers first, the new site features a cleaner, more modern design with easier navigation and one click access to all services, including paying online.

Edison – Have you met Edison? Edison is our artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot who is available to answer questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week. No more searching through multiple links to find information, just type your question in the chat and Edison will answer in seconds. The more questions he’s asked, the smarter he gets. Visit him at the bottom of our site – just click the START CHAT button.

STUDENTS HONORED FOR AWARD WINNING DESIGNS

Important Dates & Events | Holidays Hours & Office Closures
Kids Tag Art - Educational Fundraising in Lee County
STUDENTS HONORED FOR AWARD WINNING DESIGNS

view all the 2022-2023 kids tag art submissions

The Lee County Tax Collector and the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools honored 78 School District of Lee County 5th graders with Awards of Distinction for their designs in the Kids Tag Art program. The top two student designers from each participating elementary school were recognized at an awards ceremony at Fort Myers High School. The Honorable Noelle Branning, Lee County Tax Collector, and Marshall Bower, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools hosted the event.

Kids Tag Art is a fundraising program that inspires fifth grade students to design their own license plates fashioned after Florida’s 100 specialty plates. Students learn how these plates support deserving causes, like environmental protection, health initiatives and public education, and their designs are turned into tags that can be placed on the front of a vehicle.

In addition to the Awards of Distinction, four students earned accolades for their themed designs.

The Design Excellence Award given by the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools is presented to a student whose design best represents giving back to the community. The winner is Allan Reyes from Hancock Creek Elementary.

The Educational Excellence Award given by the School District of Lee County honors a student whose design best illustrates the power of education. The winner of this award is Manuella Garcia from Colonial Elementary.

The Suncoast Sunny Futures Award is presented by Suncoast Credit Union to the student whose creative expression best illustrates the idea of what a school of the future will look like. This award is presented to Gabriel DaSilva from Franklin Park Elementary.

The Tax Collector’s Choice Award is personally selected by the Tax Collector and presented to an Award of Distinction Winner who portrays the character of the Kids Tag Art Initiative. This year’s winner is Taylor Karth from Rayma C. Page Elementary.

“This program is so unique and allows students to express themselves through design while learning about art and commerce,” said Noelle Branning, Lee County Tax Collector. “We are so thrilled to honor them, and to donate dollars directly back to their deserving art teachers to fund programs at their schools.”

This year each participating art teacher received $500. Since 2016, the program has raised more than $189,000 for elementary art teachers to support their classrooms.

“We love this program because it embodies every part of our mission,“ said Marshall Bower, President and CEO of the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools. “It engages the community in public education through our great partners at the Tax Collector’s Office. It reinforces the pertinent role art plays in education and commerce, and it returns needed funding to art classes throughout the District. KTA is a win-win program!”

The patron sponsor for Kids Tag Art is Suncoast Credit Union. Other sponsors include The Community Foundation, First Horizon, Edison Bank/Bank of the Islands, Grant Street Group, Lee County Electric Co-Op (LCEC) and JP Morgan.

Below is a list of the 2023 Kids Tag Art Awards of Distinction Winners.

Bayshore

Wesley P.
Natalaiya A.

Bonita Springs

Alonso G.
Jose G.
Caloosa

Lana N.
Alice Z.

Cape

Tyler E.
Makayla N.

Colonial

Chassidy W.
Sabina C.

Diplomat

Brianna C.
Leyna M.

Edison Park

Mason K.
Aaron T.

Fort Myers Beach

Gia H.
Ella A.

Franklin Park

Gabriel D.
Da’Meira B.

G. Weaver Hipps

Rafael R.
Aysia O.

Gateway

Khaily C.
Lillyana M.

Gulf

Antonella M.
Addison P.

Hancock Creek

Abbigail C.
Joy Y.

Hector Cafferata

Ruben B.
Samantha S.

Heights

Matthew S.
Gabriel X.

J. Colin English

Lenox D.
Makayla L.

James Stephens

Emmalina R.
Rodolfo G.

Littleton

Abigail W.
Tessa W.

Manatee

Allison H.

Mirror Lakes

Lily M.
Kayla G.

Orangewood

Angela R.
Aaliyah V.

Patriot

Jovanni D.
Karley A.

Pelican

Jacob S.
Shylee M.

Ray V. Pottorf

Avery G.
Asher E.

Rayma Page

Sophia M.
Taylor K.

River Hall

Maci L.
Shakira R.

The Alva School

Madison L.
Charlee B.

San Carlos Park

Juan L.
Cameron C.

The Sanibel School

Jase K.
Valentina B.

Skyline

Irina G.
Jazelle R.

Spring Creek

Jessanie Q.
Maliah B.

Sunshine

Chelianette S.
Marlene V.

Tanglewood

Isabella G.
Camila L.

Three Oaks

Tice

Somaya S.
Innocence D.

Trafalgar

Yesliam B.
Peyton R.

Tropic Isles

Scarlett P.
Juliette L.

Tortuga Preserve

Emma K.
Chloe D.

VPAA

Emma M.
Ayazaira G.

 

 

2022 Industry Appreciation Award Winners recognized by the Horizon Council, Lee County Economic Development and the Horizon Foundation

Congratulations to all the 2022 Industry Appreciation Award Winners who were recognized by the Horizon Council, Lee County Economic Development, and the Horizon Foundation. A special shoutout to Vectra Digital which won the Technology Award and partnered with us to redesign our website LEETC.com! It was wonderful to celebrate the industry leaders in Lee County.

Tax Collector Noelle Branning with Board of County Commissioners Ray Sandelli and Cecil Pendergrass
Tax Collector Noelle Branning with Board of County Commissioners Ray Sandelli and Cecil Pendergrass
Tax Collector Noelle Branning with Christine Brady, Assistant County Manager
Tax Collector Noelle Branning with Christine Brady, Assistant County Manager
Terms of Use - Lee County Tax Collector
IAA Award Stage
Vectra Digital winning the Technology Award.
Vectra Digital winning the Technology Award.
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