On Wednesday night the Fort Myers Beach Town Council approved a 2027 budget of $13.9 million and a millage rate of 1.0655, an increase of 3.4% over the current millage rate.
1.0655 is 10% over the roll-back rate but down significantly from the original not-to-exceed rate of 1.34, which would have been a 30% tax increase.
Starting October 1st, hourly street parking will increase from $5 to $6, annual resident parking passes will cost $75, 500 non-resident parking passes will be sold for $300, and parking tickets will cost you $150.
For those getting on the town’s case about the overgrown lots, another code enforcement employee will be brought on board to help speed up the clean up.
The increase in millage and fees will also help the town continue to shore up their reserve account.
With the uncertainty of the Bay Oaks pool, after the last BORCAB committee, the $60,000 in revenue projections and the majority of the planned expenses for a new pool were all pulled from the budget.
Town Manager Will McKannay said he’s proud of what this council adopted. “We faced a real deficit, and before asking for any millage or fee increase, staff and I made real cuts to expenses. From there, we made one more hard call: delaying the Bay Oaks Pool operating line until it’s ready to open, while keeping our grant obligations intact. That closed the budget gap, restored four frozen positions in planning, zoning, public works, and neighborhood services, funded professional services for our Charter School research, and strengthened our Emergency Fund, all without a single cut to service. We answered our residents’ and customers’ calls to maintain and improve essential services. That’s the kind of budget I want to keep building: disciplined, honest about what it doesn’t yet fund, and focused on what this community has told us matters most.”
McKannay went on to say that this budget fuels several of his 2027 priorities including, “Momentum on permitting and planning capacity, stronger grant management, funding for the Charter School research, and a growing Emergency Fund. It doesn’t get us all the way there; bridge loan repayment and our reserve target remain unfunded, and I’ve said so publicly, but it moves the ball on what we can actually afford this year without asking residents for more than we need.”
The votes for the millage increase, the total budget, and the fee increases were all 4-1 with Council member John King voted no on all 3.
King said, “I am proud that I have never, in four years, voted to increase property taxes. The taxpayer should be at the top of the government pyramid—town government exists to serve you. I also could not support a $1 increase in the parking rate (from $5 to $6) because I refuse to hurt our local island small businesses. It is being presented as ONLY $1, just like the millage rate increase is being called ONLY $18.05 on a $500,000 home. But that is YOUR money, and I trust you to spend it better than the government does. My Council term ends in mid-November. I deeply hope someone is elected who will continue this fight.”
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Mr King, I think it’s time for someone to lead the charge to end this Fiasco called FMB town council and send things back to Lee County. Need someone to spearhead the process…
Dissolution requires either a Special Act of the State Legislature or an Ordinance from the Town Council that would need to be approved by Fort Myers Beach voters.
The Four(4) things this very small Island (FMB) does NOT need or can continue to afford, build / replace, or maintain are as follows :
– a Library 👎🏻
– a School of any kind 👎🏻
– a Community Pool 👎🏻
– boat mooring for the homeless 👎🏻
And the Mound House!
Yes… thanks for the reminder !
Definitely a # 5 👎🏻
Town Council didn’t address any of the big ticket items that continue to cost the town big $$$$ – specifically Bay Oaks, the mooring field or the Mound House. I totally get that these are loved by some, but when is the TC going to address these items and the fact that WE CANNOT AFFORD THEM!!!!! Hold on tight FMB because next year they will want to add significant deficits associated with their newest pet projects…..the community pool which the town manager tried to slide in the 2027 budget and then claimed victory when cutting it helped balance the bloated budget and the charter school (once again- loved by some but not affordable for FMB). In fact the 2027 budget includes $50k for the charter school application so the blood letting has already begun!!! Oh yes, don’t forget the additional headcount with the deluxe benefits and perks that were thrown in for good measure. It’s almost laughable – some might say it’s a CLOWN SHOW. WHEN DOES IT STOP??????
I completely agree! It appears the Town continues to overlook some of the most obvious opportunities to reduce expenses while instead looking for ways to place additional financial burdens on residents, property owners, and local businesses.
It is time for our elected officials and Town leadership to make the tough, financially responsible decisions they were elected and entrusted to make—rather than continually reaching deeper into taxpayers’ pockets whenever additional funding is needed. (i.e., increase in parking fees, resident parking passes and Short Term Rental property owners registration fees).
Responsible fiscal management requires more than finding new sources of revenue or increasing taxes. It requires taking a hard, honest look at EXISTING facilities, programs, staffing, and ongoing operating costs and asking a very basic question: Can we realistically afford to continue paying for all of this?
Taxpayers deserve leadership that prioritizes essential services, eliminates unnecessary or unsustainable expenses, and bases spending decisions on sound financial analysis—not simply on what might be desirable or “nice to have,” such as the ongoing costs associated with facilities like Bay Oaks and the Mound House.
Frankly, the touted budget changes being presented here are not particularly impressive when the end result is still placing additional financial pressure on residents/taxpayers, and business owners. If the changes ultimately cost taxpayers more without providing a meaningful corresponding benefit, then what exactly are taxpayers gaining from them?
Enough is enough. It’s time for genuine fiscal responsibility, meaningful cost control, and decisions based on what is truly in the long-term best interest of the MAJORITY of taxpayers.
Did you say charter school?? Do a deep dive on Byron Donalds wife and this might explain the towns interest.
So the taxable base is up 9% and the mileage rate is up 3+%. That means the Town of Fort Myers Beach is taking in a lot more revenue than they did last year. With the taxable base going up that much they should have been able to keep the millage rate level!
I don’t see how the town manager can take a victory lap while raising taxes and wasting taxpayer money for charter school research. I get that we used to have a school but it makes zero sense to do this when there is only approximately 200 residents under 18 on the island. The cost of a school under the current bloated system is not a feasible burden to put on taxpayers for the benefit of the very few. It would be different if we could revert back to the way a school was structured when we first built one on the island back in the late 1940’s.
Wow well said Mr. King we are proud of you representing the residents of the beach. Thank you for your guidance and fervor to keep the board on track.
Finally getting some financial relief during such expensive times. Otherwise I would have to sell my house. Thank goodness I can still live on FMB.