On Monday, in a 4-1 vote, the Fort Myers Beach Town Council approved a millage rate ceiling of 1.34 per $1,000 of assessed property value. If approved, that translates to a 30% millage increase on Fort Myers Beach property owners.
The 1.34 mills is the highest millage rate the town can now adopt. The final rate can come down between now and through two September budget public hearings. Town staff will now work to refine the budget to get it to a final product.
The current millage rate is 1.0294 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Town Manager Will McKannay is proposing the rate go to 1.34 and states the increase is to help the town “become more sustainable in the future.”
Council member John King voted against starting at 1.34. “I was disappointed in the lack of support for island taxpayers. While the vote set a maximum millage rate, and it can be reduced during budget hearings, there was nothing said about cutting spending, only increasing it. In addition I made a motion to sell the old Town Hall property. That died for a lack of a 2nd. I believe all options need to be investigated before we ask taxpayers to pay more money.”…