Lee County Tax Collector Catherine M. Curtis, 52, died shortly before noon Wednesday after a lengthy illness. She was born Nov. 25, 1959, in Fort Walton Beach and was elected Lee County Tax Collector in 2000.
Prior to her serving as Tax Collector, Curtis worked nine years in the private sector as a practicing Certified Public Accountant auditing real estate and life insurance companies, governmental agencies including constitutional officers, counties, cities, and public school districts. She was Collier County Controller from 1991 to 1994, and Management and Budget Director for the City of Fort Myers from 1994 to 2000.
Curtis earned her Associate of Arts degree from the University of Maryland, Munich, Germany campus, a Bachelor of Business Administration from Northeast Louisiana University.
"Her vision and leadership enabled her to provide excellent customer service to the citizens of Lee County." her office said in a prepared statement.
Service information wis pending.
Source: Office of the Lee County Tax Collector
Fact Box
Cathy Curtis, Lee County Tax Collector
Mrs. Curtis was born in Fort Walton Beach, and has been a Lee County resident since 1989.
She earned an Associate of Arts Degree from the University of Maryland, Munich Germany campus, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Northeast Louisiana University in 1982.
Her work history includes:
Nine years in the private sector as a practicing Certified Public Accountant auditing real estate and life insurance companies, governmental agencies including constitutional officers, counties, cities, and public school districts
Controller for Collier County from 1991 to 1994
Management and Budget Director for the City of Fort Myers, until winning the office of Tax Collector
Elected Tax Collector in 2000, re-elected in, 2004 and 2008
Professional Affiliations:
A member of the Florida Tax Collectors Association, serving as Treasurer from 2006-2010
Member of Government Finance Officers Association
Certified Florida Collector
While in office, Cathy Curtis has implemented a number of changes, improving the quality of service to the community:
Each office has added an express window for faster service of simple renewals and tax payments
Now provides Driver License services for all of Lee County, with six service locations to better serve the public
Instrumental in streamlining the Local Business Tax (formerly Occupational License) application process, in most instances eliminating the need to visit several agencies to complete the process
Most property tax, motor vehicle/vessel, and mobile home transactions can be conveniently handled without coming into one of the offices
Instituted the use of public service announcements to deliver a broader base of information to the general public
The number #1 Goal of the Lee County Tax Collector's Office is "excellent" Customer Service.
