August Transportation Bond for Marco Island Voters

When Marco Island voters head to the polls on August 18, they will consider a referendum for a $23 million transportation bond. This represents a significant investment, and the purpose of this article is to explain how the proposal was developed and how the City intends to use these funds.

In January this year, the City Council had a goal-setting workshop in which they identified and agreed upon six goals to accomplish in 2026. The Council’s top priority was to identify new sources of revenue, followed closely by pursuing an infrastructure bond referendum.

Early discussions among the City Council and City staff explored funding options for City parks, water quality, and infrastructure needs. Ultimately, the Council decided to focus solely on transportation initiatives, prioritizing bridges and roads. After months of presentations and deliberations, the Council voted in May 2026 to place a General Obligation Bond not to exceed $23 million on the August ballot.

The City’s website includes detailed election information, along with the exact ballot question. The question reads:

Shall City of Marco Island issue General Obligation Bonds, in one or more series, not exceeding $23,000,000, bearing interest not exceeding maximum legal rates, maturing not more than 20 years from the issuance date of each series, pledging the City's full faith, credit and unlimited ad valorem taxing power, to finance the acquisition, construction and equipping of transportation improvements including but not limited to bridge replacements and roadway improvements?

Voters will simply vote yes or no.

For those wondering why this item will be on the August ballot instead of the November general election ballot, this scheduling decision was made by the Collier County Supervisor of Elections.

The City’s website also provides a detailed outline of how the bond proceeds will be used over the next decade. The breakdown of funding is as follows:

Replacing the Caxambas Bridge

• Currently, this bridge has the lowest sufficiency rating among 370 bridges in Collier County.
• The City repaired the bridge in 2017, which extended the life of the bridge by 10 years.
• In 2024 and 2025, City Council approved $265,371 and $161,351, respectively, to design a new bridge and design the relocation of the water and sewer mains that run under the bridge.
• The cost of the new bridge is $12 million and there are two FDOT grants for $3.75 million each, leaving the City obligation at $4.5 million.
• This project is scheduled for 2027.

Replacing the Goldenrod Bridge

• This bridge is rated as "scour critical" by FDOT and is also one of the lowest-rated bridges in all of Collier County.
• Replacement costs $10 million and there is an FDOT grant for $3.75 million, leaving the City obligation at $6.25 million.
• This project is scheduled for 2029.

Repairing three bridges: Blackmore, Sandhill, and South Seas

• Total repair cost is $1.5 million ($500,000 per bridge).
• Repairs scheduled for 2028.

Roadway Paving

• The roadways on Marco Island are on a 10-year paving cycle, but 36 lane miles have not been paved in over 10 years.
• Each lane mile costs $200,000.
• To catch up these 36 lane miles, the City will dedicate $7.2 million to "catch up" paving.
• In order to stay on the 10-year schedule, the City will add $500,000 per year to roadway paving over seven years, totaling $3.5 million.

Every year, all expenditures associated with this bond will require formal approval by City Council in a public meeting. Approval of the bond does not authorize automatic spending. A General Obligation Bond is a form of municipal debt repaid through property taxes. The estimated cost to homeowners ranges between $4 - $8 per month depending on the assessed value. For example: