To keep everyone in the loop on the situation surrounding bringing Jackson Laboratory to Collier County, I thought I would make note of a few points mentioned in articles that have recently come out surrounding this subject.  There has been a strong focus on the possible financing tactics that are on the table for this project to happen, and there has been a push calling into question the breakdown of projected jobs the venture would bring to the area.

According to the articles I have seen, the seven financing alternatives as it stands right now are:

• “Imposing a franchise fee of 2.4 percent to residents of Florida Power & Light in unincorporated Collier .”
• “A property tax levy with a pay-as-you-go approach and not bonded, and therefore would not require a voter referendum. ”
• “A property tax levy with a pay-as-you-go approach but with the state money being tapped first. ”
• “A property tax of 14.3 cents per $1,000 of property value and issuing general revenue bonds, which would require a voter referendum. ”
• “A non-ad valorem revenue source that would be bonded but no voter referendum would be required. ”
• “A combination of an FP&L franchise fee and property tax of 10 cents per $1,000 of property value for 15 years. ”
• “A combination sales tax increase of a half cent, to start Jan. 1, 2011, along with a 20 cent tax rate per $1,000 of property value for two years. ”

These different directions are going to be presented to the Collier County Commission before the end of the month when a decision will have to be made on whether or not to move forward with this project.

With regards to jobs, there is a citizen’s advisory committee requesting a breakdown of expected job creation – direct and indirect, and permanent and temporary – if the center is built near Ave Maria.  According to the article I was reading, “The consultants projected a 23-year build out for the biomedical park with 11,490 jobs created, which include Jackson’s proposed 563 jobs over the first 10 years, other research park jobs and spin-off jobs.” 

Stay tuned for future postings on this as news surfaces!