Last Monday, the Fort Myers Beach Town Council voted 4-1 to begin their 2027 budgeting process with a millage rate ceiling of $1.34 per $1,000 of assessed property value. That’s 30% higher than the millage rate for this year. Council member John King voted against.
As the town staff, and Town Council work through the budget process, including 2 public hearings, that rate can only come down, it can not go up. A 30% hike, if approved, would be the largest millage rate increase amongst all Southwest Florida municipalities as voters head to the polls in November to consider property tax reform. To pass a $1.34 millage the vote would need to be 5-0.
Voters on Fort Myers Beach will also head to the polls in November to elect 3 council members. John King’s seat is up (King is not running). Rebecca Link’s seat is up (Link is running), and John McLean’s seat is up (McLean is running). Also running for those three seats are Anita Cereceda, Tom Brady, and Ed Schoonover.
We asked all 5 candidates what they thought about the proposed 30% increase in the town’s millage.
Tom Brady: “While a 30% increase on the surface seems excessive, as you know, this vote is only to establish an upper limit on the spending for FY 2027. The backup data to support an actual budget of this amount is not yet available, but I trust it will be as the budget process progresses until the final vote. Critical to my approval of the final budget would be in understanding which projects/services we are funding and are these recurring or one time costs.”
Anita Cereceda: “No. I would not have voted in favor of raising the maximum proposed ad valorem rate to 1.34.”
Ed Schoonover: “With the preliminary millage rate set, the council now has the opportunity to slash and cut to best represent the taxpayers of the beach. I feel the issue currently lacks some transparency as the actual numbers appeared to be included in the council packet but not easily found by the general public. Are we even sure what the balance of the Bridge Loan Fund is? I would be in favor of going to the rollback rate as we get more properties back and on the tax rolls and giving our residents a much needed break.”
John McLean: “While I approved the motion to raise the max millage rate to 1.34 and even seconded it, I did so to keep the process moving and meet the deadline with the state. This is only the first step in the process and does not in any way reflect my support for a 30% increase in our taxes. I gave clear direction that the Town Manager needs to identify areas of cost reduction and deliver a balanced budget with minimal tax impact.”
Rebecca Link: “I haven’t decided what the final millage rate should be, and I don’t believe it would be appropriate to prejudge a budget item that is still pending before the Council. We still have two additional public hearings, and opportunities to review revenues, expenditures, and hear from residents before making a final decision. When the budget comes before me for a final vote, I’ll make my decision based on the complete record and the information presented during that public process.”
A millage increase to 1.34 will provide the town with an additional $1,792,925.21 in revenue above the rolled back rate. The town’s rolled back rate is .9687. That millage rate would provide the town with the exact same amount of ad valorem revenue as last year. If the town approved a millage rate of 1.34, that increase would be 38.5% above the rolled back rate.
The town does not hold budget workshops like all other municipalities. They go straight to 2 budget hearings after they approve the millage rate ceiling, which they will do Monday. Once that’s approved they can reduce the rate at the budget hearings, they cannot increase it. The first budget hearing is September 9th at 5:01PM. The final budget hearing is September 23rd at 5:01PM.
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Can we vote to eliminate our city council and go back to being run by Lee County? Not sure if that holds water or not. Can it be discussed? I know a pool is very expensive to maintain. Being prudent on costs would be a good start.
It’s clear to me one candidate has the right answer clear and concise.
I’ve read stories of missing million$. Whether true or not, why isn’t that question being addressed? Ed, it would be responsible of you to investigate and print these accusation’s, true or not.
Imagine that. A candidate fighting for a council seat says he’d vote for a tax rollback. A popular idea for sure. Should attract some votes.
But is that responsible in a town struggling under some of the rougest waters in its 30 years of operation while meeting it’s obligations, like paychecks to employees, keeping the lights on and attending to the debt service.
Yes, some of the tough times were created inside town hall itself. A bloated bureaucracy may well be a good piece of the blame. But outside forces have also been in play on the island. Ian comes to mind, and its nieces and nephews who followed. Waste may have been in play but so was the town’s biggest attraction, the sea.
That 38 percent tax increase may not be real, probably isn’t. But in a time when struggle is reality rollback in a campaign platform is reckless.
Reason and skilled leadership would expect the town manager and his finance director to be pressing hard against such a thought.
As far as I am concerned I am voting out the members of the town council that are currently there. They do care about the residents but they sure care about their pockets!!!!!
Proposing a 38% increase is just lazy and irresponsible. Accepting a 38% cap because you just want to move the process forward is the same. Hold the town manager and his staff accountable to do the work by the deadline. The council should accept nothing less.
Not one penny more! Keep your soft hands out of my wallet.
It’s sad when votes are cast, in their words…I didn’t vote for a 30% increase it’s just the max we can go. Really? Sorry Ms. Link and Mr. McLean the possibility is now to increase the tax 38.5%. If you were looking out for the residents you could have capped it at 10%. That would have gave a sense that you were really looking out for the residents and you are serious about scrutinizing the budget. Thank you Mr. King, I am sorry you aren’t running to keep your seat. We need leaders like you.
Seems to me that the budget game is played by
1) we vote on a huge upper level that we know would never fly
2) we end up about halfway between the rollback rate and the ceiling
3) the TC praises itself for “cutting” the budget, so keep voting for us.
The real question to ask the candidates is: “Have you gone and asked for the details of the budget?” In order to make an informed decision?