FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monroe County Tax Collector Earns
Legacy Award for Excellence in Financial Operations
Award is one of the highest honors a Florida Tax Collector can receive from the
Florida Tax Collectors Association.
KEY WEST, Fla., August 27, 2023 – Monroe County Tax Collector Sam C. Steele was honored to receive the Legacy Award for excellence in financial operations from the Florida Tax Collectors Association (FTCA) at their annual Fall Education Forum held last week in Orlando, Florida. The award is one of the highest honors a Florida Tax Collector can receive from the FTCA. It is also the first Legacy Award earned by a Monroe County Tax Collector.
Tax Collector Steele and his team met the rigorous requirements of a five-person judging panel made up of government financial executives from across Florida. The panel examined the Monroe County Tax Collector’s financial operations and processes related to budgeting, customer focus, and technology innovation/automation. The judging panel also required a perfect financial audit clear of findings.
“It was an honor to bring this award back home to Monroe County alongside Daniel Cabot, Chief Financial Officer, and other members of our team,” said Steele. “The Legacy Award recognizes our team for their exemplary performance as stewards of Monroe County taxpayers’ dollars.”
In addition to recognizing best practices, the FTCA Fall Education Forum brings together Florida Tax Collectors and staff for a program of professional development and thought leadership. During the education portion of the program, Steele was recognized for completing a two-year course of study in executive leadership through the FTCA Executive Leadership Academy in partnership with Valencia College.
He was also invited to participate in a panel discussion with other Florida Tax Collectors who recently graduated from the program. The panel shared their thoughts on leadership, helpful resources, and how to engage and support other leaders within their organizations.
Steele was also sworn in as FTCA Board Director for District 10, which represents Monroe, Miami-Dade, Lee, Collier, and Hendry Counties. In this new leadership role, he will report to the FTCA Executive Committee in support of the Association’s mission to provide leadership, legislative advocacy, and assist in influencing sound public policy on behalf of Floridians.
As current State Chair of the FTCA Records Management Coalition, Steele will continue to lead a statewide group of Tax Collectors and staff, who share records management best practices while ensuring compliance with Florida public records laws. Steele and Co-Chair Shelly Edmonson of the Flagler County Tax Collector’s Office were honored to host the first educational session in three years and an open discussion to a room full of participants from across the state.
“My team and I are proud to be recognized at the state-level for our performance and leadership here in Monroe County,” said Steele.
For more information
- Learn more about the services provided by the Monroe County Tax Collector’s Office.
- Learn more about Constitutional Tax Collector Sam C. Steele, CFC.
- For the latest news and information, please follow the Monroe County Tax Collector’s Office on Facebook.
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