CITY OF NAPLES, FL GOVERNMENT AUCTION ONLINE

MARCH 26: IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE COLLIER COUNTY SURPLUS AUCTION, SEE COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA SURPLUS AUCTION - MARCH 27 INSPECTION @ 1-4PM, AUCTION SAT MARCH 28 @ 9AM

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City of Naples, FL Government Auction: http://www.govdeals.com/eas/advSearchResults.cfm?myseller=1806

NAPLES: Despite the rough economy, taxpayers in Naples will get some good financial news Monday that no one expected.

City Council will hear a new report from the city’s Purchasing Manager. The report will detail a revenue stream of tens of thousands of dollars for the city.

At a time when money is extremely tight and the city finds itself facing a budget deficit, it means the extra revenue will help with the city’s economic uncertainty.

Until now, the City of Naples held an on-site auction every year to sell off items it no longer needed. The auction brings in extra revenue for the city.

But starting three months ago, the city's Purchasing Manager, J.F. Workman, decided to do away with the traditional on-site auction, and instead, upload pictures of all items the city no longer needs into cyberspace.

By using the website, www.govdeals.com, the city is now taking in a lot more money, and all of it is going to the city's general fund.

Mayor Bill Barnett says any extra revenue means a better chance of services not getting cut at a time when everything is on the table.

“Governments are having a tough time along with everybody else right now, so any little extra we can get is good for the taxpayers,” said Workman.

For example, Workman’s report he’s going to present to City Council Monday will detail how the city's on-site auction took in $109,948 in 2007. In 2006, the on-site auction took in $81,160.

But for just the past three months alone, the city has taken in $163,503 in online sales thanks to 54 items being sold on www.govdeals.com.

Workman says about 100 to 200 people would come to the city's annual on-site auction in the past.

But now, the difference, he says, is that any item no longer needed will be uploaded on-line to www.govdeals.com immediately. It means anyone can bid on an item anytime during the year from anywhere

In the past three months, some top bidders have come from states like California, Missouri, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

The website www.govdeals.com does receive a small portion of each sale.

Mayor Bill Barnett says the extra money will help the city maintain a financial holding pattern, at least for now.

City council will hear the new report during Monday’s City Council Workshop meeting. It starts at 8:30 am at Naples City Hall.