Welcome To The Lee County Property Appraiser's Office

Matt Caldwell is a 7th generation Florida native, whose family came to Micanopy in 1826. Matt was born in Gainesville but grew up in Lee County where he met his wife, Yvonne. They live there today, where they raise their daughter, Ava. In his private life, Matt enjoys the outdoor lifestyle that Florida offers: fishing, golfing, kayaking, hunting, and camping, to name a few. He is a deacon in his local church, and spends time as a small businessman focused on his timber and cattle operation.

After attending local schools in Lee County, Matt received his Associate’s Degree from Edison College and his Bachelor of Arts in History from Florida Gulf Coast University. He is currently pursuing a Master’s of Science in Geomatics from the University of Florida.
Lee County Property Appraiser
Matthew H. Caldwell

While an undergraduate, he began his career as a real estate appraiser, ultimately joining the firm of Maxwell, Hendry, Simmons in 2004, where he remains of counsel. He has attained the highest state certification in his field and is qualified as an expert witness in multiple state and federal courts.

Matt was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2010-2018, serving on and chairing several committees including: tax policy, redistricting, insurance & banking, agriculture & natural resources/public lands, transportation & infrastructure, local, federal, & military affairs, and oversight of government operations, such as pensions & elections. He is proud to have sponsored, and have the Governor sign into law, dozens of bills, including those related to agriculture, natural resources, public safety, cannabis reform, medical care, criminal justice reform, pensions, and term limits, among others. He also served on the Board of the Assembly of State Legislatures, a national organization focused on the implications of Article V of the US Constitution. In 2018, Matt was the Republican nominee for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

From 2019-2020, Matt was also a partner at TM Strategic Consulting, focused on political consulting, where he remains of counsel, as well.

In 2020, Matt was elected to serve as the Lee County Property Appraiser, following the retirement of 40-year incumbent Ken Wilkinson. As the author of numerous Constitutional Amendments, including Save Our Homes, Working Waterfronts, and Portability, Ken set a standard of excellence for public service. Matt is proud to continue Ken’s legacy as an advocate for the taxpayer; using the platform as a Constitutional Officer to support good government at the local, state, and federal levels.

Outside of serving in elected office, Matt volunteered for appointment to various governmental committees regarding financial oversight, audits, land use and transportation, as well as Everglades restoration as a member of the Lake Okeechobee Water Resources Advisory Committee from 2006 – 2008, the constitutional review of the Lee County Charter in 2008, and the OPPAGA Local Government Efficiency Task Force in 2021. Matt is a current board member and past chairman of the FGCU Center for Agribusiness Advisory Committee and also serves on the board of the Florida Association of Property Appraisers, Florida State Parks Foundation, and the Richloam Museum.