This morning at 9AM, in downtown Fort Myers, the Metropolitan Planning Organization will discuss a county-wide 1% sales surtax that, if approved, would fund construction and repairs to Lee County roads.
Earlier this month the MPO Executive Committee started the discussion that led to the item being moved to the full MPO Board agenda today. Lee County continues to grow in population and is having a hard time funding the roadway infrastructure needed to keep up with that growth.
As of 2025 Lee County has a list of 35 transportation projects (see below) with a total cost of $4.4 billion. $1 billion has either been spent or budgeted toward those projects and over $3.3 billion remains unfunded. On Fort Myers Beach, Estero Boulevard is owned by Lee County and the county just rebuilt the Big Carlos Pass Bridge. The surtax could generate approximately $250 million per year in the first few years. Fort Myers Beach would see about $744,000 of that money. The only way this tax can become a reality is if the voters approve it in a referendum…