September Town Council meetings are focused on the Fiscal Year 2023 budget

In this month's budget hearings of Town Council, a property tax millage increase of .04 is being debated to fund recurring new initiatives. Initiatives include increased public safety, beach re-nourishment, roadway safety lighting, and workforce housing, among others. 

Keep this important fact in mind as you hear about or listen to these meetings:

At .99 mills (up from the current .95 mills) it is estimated that a homesteaded property appraised at $538,000 would pay $533 PER YEAR in taxes to the Town of Fort Myers Beach. This is a very slight increase of $21.52 ANNUALLY, or less than $2 a month in annual taxes to the Town of Fort Myers Beach. 

Other important factors:

• When we benchmark the Town relative to other municipalities based on 2021 Florida municipality millage rates, only nine other municipalities in the State of Florida have a lower millage rate than the Town of Fort Myers Beach.
• We should be extremely proud that we rank 381 out of the 391 local governments in Florida, which includes one municipality that is dissolved, if the rate remains at .95 mills.
• Assuming that the rate is ultimately adjusted to .99 mills, the Town’s ranking would then become 380 out of 391 rising one point to the 11th lowest in the State of Florida, including one municipality that is dissolved.
• In local comparisons, property owners annually pay $2,182 to Lee County; $3,263 to the Lee County Public Schools, and $1,608 to the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District, among others.

The 2nd public hearing will be Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, at 5:01 p.m. at Town Hall, 2525 Estero Boulevard. The first hearing was conducted on Thursday, Sept. 8, starting at 5:01 p.m. Listen to it and the regular Town Council meeting here.  

Read an editorial published in the Fort Myers Beach Observer and Beach Bulletin from Town Manager Roger Hernstadt.