The question on many people's minds is, “How much is Murdock Village going to cost the taxpayers?”- The answer is, ultimately, nothing. The upfront purchase of the property is expected to cost $ 75 million, but within a very short time the land will be sold to developers. When that occurs the County will replace the funds advanced for the purchase of the property. The developers will be held to a contract that states that if they do not perform to the standards of the agreement within a specific time period, the land will be returned to the County. A win-win situation for the County tax-payers.

The County is still exploring the options for obtaining the necessary funds for water, sewer and roads. Bonds or tax increment financing (TIF) may be used. This type of funding would allow the County to borrow against the anticipated increased income from property taxes. The taxes that are received from the improved properties are then used to pay off the bonds. The net result will be no cost to the existing taxpayers of Charlotte County. The County is also researching grants from various state and federal agencies based on Murdock Village being a high-tech, energy friendly community. Once Murdock Village is complete, it is anticipated that the new properties will continue to generate revenue through increased property taxes.

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