County AUIR/CIE briefing flags multi‑hundred‑million shortfalls in stormwater and roads, calls for maintenance funding

County planning and infrastructure staff told commissioners at a workshop that Collier County’s annual update and inventory report (AUIR) and capital improvement element (CIE) show significant funding shortfalls for stormwater and transportation projects and an increasing backlog of maintenance on county assets.

“In FY 26, we are anticipating over a $64,000,000 shortfall and over the 5 years, a $300,000,000 shortfall in projects that we know that we need to do,” Trinity Scott, transportation and stormwater director, said in the workshop presentation and accompanying slide deck describing immediate stormwater capital needs.

Stormwater: Scott described county stormwater infrastructure as a mix of major canals, water‑control structures, roadside swales and buried pipe, and said much of it is underground and requires both inspection and follow‑up repair. She cited a preliminary five‑year project shortfall of roughly $300 million and asked commissioners to consider a dedicated long‑term funding source; staff said they plan to request funding in the FY‑26 budget to start a utility study and that any fee would require a legal nexus study before implementation.

Roads and pavement: Planning staff said transportation needs over the next five years total about $314 million, driven by lane‑mile additions and several large projects in later years. Transportation director Trinity Scott said the county plans roughly 45 additional lane miles in the next five years, with several large, partially funded projects — including Immokalee and Vanderbilt Beach corridors — concentrated in FY‑28 in the county’s five‑year profile.

Sidewalks and signals: staff noted new Florida Department of Transportation standards reduced allowable sidewalk lifts, creating a maintenance backlog. Signal inventory and maintenance needs have grown while the county’s signal‑maintenance crew has stayed small; staff said contract costs for maintenance are increasing even as budget lines remain constrained.

Emergency medical services: EMS staff and county leaders discussed response‑time planning and station placement. Commissioners and staff singled out a potential benefit of adding an ambulance at Station 63 on I‑75/Alligator Alley to reduce long response times for major crashes on the interstate; staff said they will pursue options with partner agencies. The county also reported roughly 37,000 medical calls year‑to‑date and said it is reevaluating response‑time metrics and station locations as EMS needs and co‑response arrangements evolve.

Parks, libraries and government buildings: staff said library square‑footage surpluses from earlier building campaigns are being eroded and that the county will need to plan future library locations and explore co‑location with other government functions. Parks staff said the county will face community‑park acreage shortfalls starting in the next few fiscal years and is working to assess opportunities on newly acquired properties and commitments embedded in planned rural town and village developments. County facilities officials also emphasized that vertical asset maintenance for buildings is a growing and costly need that will be folded into budgeting discussions.

What’s next: County staff said they will incorporate these needs into the FY‑26 budget process, propose a stormwater funding study and pursue additional grant opportunities for transportation projects. Commissioners asked staff to provide clearer summaries for public consumption to support budget decisions and to identify options — including special assessments or bonds — for addressing the largest shortfalls.