Special Assessments
Special Assessments
A special assessment is a bill to the property owner for infrastructure improvements to a neighborhood, over and above what is traditionally offered to a neighborhood. Examples of projects which use special assessments are:
- Streetscape/beautification
- Undergrounding of utilities
- Curb and guttering
- Sidewalks
- Sewers
How does it work?
A neighborhood (typically a property owners’ association) applies to the City to coordinate the project, in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-761. There is a required straw poll process, a notification process, and multiple council actions required prior to final approval. If approved, the city will complete the project, and charge the property owners. The process can take several years, if the project is complicated.
The cost of the project is allocated to the affected properties by a relevant method. For example, for some projects, each lot should pay the same amount, a pro-rated share of the total cost. For other projects, the correct apportionment may be property square footage, number of connections, road frontage, or property value.
Assessments are paid through the property tax rolls, and the outstanding assessments are managed by NBS Inc. To determine an outstanding balance on an assessment, contact the City’s assessment coordinator (NBS Inc.) at (800) 676.7516.
There are several Special Assessment projects underway:
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Project is complete and assessments are being paid |
| Port Royal Area Dredging |
Project is complete and assessments are being paid |
| Gulf Acres/Rosemary Heights Sewer Assessment |
The Initial Assessment Resolution for the special assessment was approved by Resolution 2018-14142 on April 18, 2018. Property owners were notified by first class mail in a letter May 10, 2018 of the final assessment hearing. The final assessment hearing, held on June 13, 2018, did not pass; the corresponding bond resolution and construction contract were withdrawn from the agenda. City Council reconsidered and approved the item on September 5, with the final resolution approved on October 17. |
| Seagate Area Powerline Undergrounding |
The Seagate Area Undergrounding project is a neighborhood initiative to move power and cable lines underground, and fund the improvements via a special assessment. After City Council’s approval for staff to initiate and assess the process via Resolution 2018-14093, informal ballots were sent to all property owners. The project was confirmed with more than 50% of the property owners voting "yes". In December 2018, FPL was requested to prepare an updated cost analysis and engineering design. Once that has been submitted, staff will prepare the initial assessment resolution. |
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Aqualane Shores Utility Line Extension Project |
Project is complete and assessments are being paid On March 6, 2019, Naples City Council accepted the request by Aqualane Shores Association to begin the process for a special assessment. The purpose of the assessment is to extend natural gas lines and fiber optic lines into the Aqualane Shores neighborhood. On March 8, Naples Finance Department mailed ballots to the 536 property owners in the Aqualane Shores neighborhood to determine their willingness to participate in this special assessment. More than 50% of the property owners replied with a YES vote. On May 1, 2019 the initial assessment resolution creating the Aqualane Shores Utility Line Extension Special Assessment Area was passed. Subsequently, property owners were notified by first class mail in a letter May 6, 2019 of the final assessment hearing. The final assessment hearing was held and the final resolution was approved on June 5, 2019. The total estimated Capital Cost to fund the Utility Improvement is $1,360,840; and was appropriated from the Public Service Tax Capital Projects fund. |
