On Thursday, Governor Ron DeSantis awarded $338 million in state funding to communities impacted by Hurricane Ian to support long-term recovery efforts and resiliency. $14 million from that distribution will go to the Fort Myers Beach Fire District.
The entire $338 million will be used to assist with ongoing hurricane repairs and recovery efforts for schools, sheriff’s offices, fire stations, parks and recreation centers, roads, wastewater treatment plants, beach renourishment, and will assist local governments with loss of revenue since the storm.
On September 28, 2022, Fire Station 31 was damaged beyond repair by the devastating effects of storm surge and wind. Fire Chief Scott Wirth says $9 million will be allocated to relocating and replacing this fire station. “Through tax rebates in the current year and reduced valuations for the upcoming year, the fire district has experienced losses in revenue of approximately $7.5 million. The remaining $5 million awarded by the Governor will be used to offset the reduction in ad valorem revenue for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 budget years.”
That should hold off a mil rate increase for a long time.