The Fort Myers Beach Town Council is considering a 26% increase in the millage rate to help make up a mult-million budget shortfall for the fiscal year that begins October 1st. Here’s how to give the council your input.
The most important meeting for you to attend if you would like to provide input on the proposed tax increase and 2026 budget is September 11th at 5PM. That is the first budget public hearing and when the biggest impact can be made. By the second public hearing on September 24th at 5PM most of the proposed changes will be either included or rejected. The 24th hearing is mainly to approve the final document. Both hearings will be held at the new Town Hall building at 6231 Estero Boulevard
If you cannot make the budget public hearings you can share your opinions with the Town Council by e-mail them individually or by e-mailing to council@fmbgov.com which will go to all 5 Town Council members.
In addition to the staff being told to sharpen their pencils and look for cuts when the millage increase was proposed, after meeting with Town Council members individually, Town Manager Will McKannay is looking into other revenue generating ideas. They include: selling town owned property, special assessments, tourism related taxes, fee increases and short-term rental fee increases. Currently the annual short-term rental fee is $300.00.
McKannay is reviewing whether any of the suggested options on that list are feasible and legal.
The town of Fort Myers beach staff is recommending the Town Council approve a millage rate increase from .99 per $1,000 of assessed property value to $1.25. At the last Town Council meeting, Council member John King voted against the possible increase. The proposed rate is the ceiling. While the Town Council can decide to come in under 1.25, before their final vote, they cannot go higher.
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Now they have screwed up the water billing system. I’m being charged 3% for using automatic bank draft.
Has the TC identified how many residents need to show up at the meeting
before they listen? Is it 20,30,100,500 ? They must have a number in mind, since that was there rationale for approving Seagate…
Doesn’t matter how many show up, WAK do not listen or care about what the actual full time voting residents’ opinions are.
Emails, Meetings – doesn’t matter – no one listens or cares – They do as they please !
Balance the Budget, cut costs, reduce services — like every family does, all the time. Do what YOU need to do for this Island’s struggling Homeowners that 3 years in are still waiting on permits and trying to rebuild.
Properties aren’t selling, Owners are dropping their prices, increased Insurance costs, HOA Fees, Special Assessments ….
It’s obvious there is NO respect for this Towns’ Taxpaying Residents.
You said it all.residents of our island are still recuperating from three hurricanes. To raise our taxes is just another slap in the faces of the people who made this island what it was.!! Yes I said was.look around all you see is huge concrete 5 million and up homes and condos being built..I wonder does the new town manager council members and Mayor care about the people who lived here before Ian.??? Or are they going to commit to the new wealthy people that are coming.
Amen Ann
That’s how it is in Miami. It’s all about the next wealthy new guy and the tourists. The residents of 5 or so years or more are just not top priority. Same with the established businesses. It’s disrespectful, and I definitely don’t want that for FMB.
How much money are we paying for the entire town staff and council members? What is the amount of money are we getting back from lee county from our tax revenue? Will we always be in a deficit because we do not receive enough money back from lee county? If so why do we not go to Lee county and ask for more of our tax dollars back?
That’s not how taxes work. We are our own entity and as such, have our own mileage to get the tax revenue requires to run ourselves independently. (On top of the property tax we pay to the county) BTW… we also have a separate tax to run our LIBRARY.
I’m so glad you are offering this advice! This is so much more effective than petitions! You can also print up post cards to mail.
Just make sure you are an eligible voter in that district and that you sign with your legal name. They SHOULD check to make sure everyone who responds is one of their constituents. Who knows if they’ll pay any attention or not, although that’s their jobs to represent you.
My impact is an additional $286 on a $1.1M assessment, my RE bill has ranged from $13K to $20K over six years, another $286 is negligible when one is paying these kind of bills. Would rather FMB has the revenue necessary to maintain a balanced budget and resources necessary to clean this island up!
Agree completely, Dan! Thanks for adding the practical perspective.