- Marco Island City Council is considering a significant property tax increase, potentially the largest in 17 years, to address neglected city assets.
- While some council members support the increase to address infrastructure needs and emergency funds, others advocate for maintaining the current rate or a smaller increase.
- The final decision on the tax rate will be made in September, with the new fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.
After eight years of property tax rollbacks, Marco Island City Council is considering the largest increase in at least 17 years to dig out of the hole staff and council say has been created and left city assets in major disrepair.
With increasing property values, mostly from new construction, over the past decade, city councils have focused on lowering property tax rates for most property owners, while maintaining the same revenue for the city – that’s rollback.
The problem is that a growing city needs more revenue to pay its employees a fair wage, to maintain infrastructure such as roads and bridges, and to supply emergency services. The proposed fiscal year 2026 general fund budget is an increase of $9 million…