On Thursday the Town of Fort Myers Beach and City of Sanibel asked the Tourist Development Council for money to help pay for their 2025 4th of July Fireworks celebrations. Here’s what happened.
Sanibel asked the TDC to cover $13,000 of their $30,000 fireworks bill and Fort Myers Beach asked for $37,500. Both requests were half the cost of the fireworks shows. The reason Fort Myers Beach is so much higher is because the fireworks need to be shot from a barge. Before Hurricane Ian the pier (owned by Lee County) was used as the staging area. The cost to rent the barge is nearly $40,000. The last 3 fireworks celebrations on Fort Myers Beach originated from a barge, the last one to celebrate kick off of the 2025 New Year was blurred by an unexpected midnight fog.
At the TDC meeting Sanibel Vice Mayor Holly Smith said the request is being made because both municipalities are still working through financial hardships dealt their way by Hurricane Ian in September of 2022. Both municipalities stressed how vital Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach are to bringing in the tourist dollars which help fund beach renourishment related projects all over Lee County. The TDC has never really broken down exactly how much each municipality kicks in (and we’ve requested that information in the past). However, it’s no secret Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach are major contributors, especially pre-Ian when more hotel rooms were available.
The TDC voted to send the request to the Lee County Attorney’s office to see if it was legal to allocate the money for fireworks.
The Tourist Development Tax is a 5% tax applied to every short-term stay in Lee County. Each year the Tourist Development Council approves funding for the maintenance of Lee County beaches, beach renourishment projects, and for beach and shoreline capital projects such as piers, boardwalks, parks and re-vegetation. Fireworks may fall outside those legislated rules toi spend the money which is why the TDC sent it to the Lee County attorney.
The TDC reports directly to the Lee County Board of Commissioners. Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane, a former Mayor of Sanibel, is the Chairman of the TDC. He was not at the meeting Thursday.
Is it really worth it? All I’ve ever heard sense living in SWFL is how special and important the coastal environment is for tourist and tax dollars. Fishing guides, bird watchers, turtle people. Where are you that you’re willing to pollute the same water you’re screaming to protect for 10 minutes of bang bang – pop pop?
https://www.environmentenergyleader.com/stories/the-environmental-impact-of-fireworks-celebrations-and-consequences,44790
FMB tax payers money should not be footing the bill for firework. Business are the only ones the profit from these events. They should be footing the bill or tourist dollar should pay for this. Taxpayer money should be reserved for town operations and infrastructure improvements projects.
But …. What about the Turtles ?
TLM = Turtle Lives Matter 🐢
Could we borrow a barge from the new bridge building company, Superior? I am guessing they are profiting handsomely so far and might want to share some good will?
TDC better pony up. They’ve pillaged the islands for many years and built a bureaucracy funneling money away…all in the name of promoting tourism.