Town budget hearing to be held Thursday
A Town of Fort Myers Beach Council budget hearing set for this Thursday at 5:01 p.m. in the town’s new town hall chambers is expected to include discussion on approximately $1.2 million in new spending cuts that town staff has identified that could potentially make up for a $1.2 million budget hole.
The $1.2 million budget deficit led to the town council voting 4-1 last month to increase its millage rate.
The town council still has time to lower the amount of its millage rate or not change it all, from the current rate of .99 mills per thousand dollars of assessed property value. Under the tentative 26% millage rate hike approved by the council, the millage rate would increase to 1.255 mills per thousand dollars of taxable property value.
Last month, Town of Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers encouraged town staff to consider more charges for visitors to the town in order to make up for an approximately $1.2 million budget hole that has led to a tentative millage rate hike of 26%. Councilmember John King had also called for increased charges for visitors to the town. King was the lone vote against the budget hike.
The town has been dealing with a number of budget difficulties including an $11.9 million loan from the state after Hurricane Ian that is still due, increased law enforcement charges of approximately $155,000 to cover details for the town’s Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve fireworks show, an increase in legal services expenses from $349,000 to $465,000 along with revenue shortfalls. The town did see an increase of $670,000 in real property tax value assessments this year though which will increase the town’s tax base though its expenses rose more than $800,000.
The plans expected to be discussed on Thursday include turning the town’s fireworks costs over to the private sector.
Requests to the town for more specific information regarding budget projections and programs led to the town issuing only basic budget information. Finance Director Joe Onzick did not respond to messages seeking more detailed comments on the town’s budget or questions regarding why certain budgeted items were seeing large discrepancies from the amount budgeted for the current fiscal year to what actual spending and revenues were.
A request to town officials and the town’s attorney, Vose Law Firm, for why the legal services are budgeted to increase by $116,000, were also not responded to.
Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers said Tuesday “It’s too early to determine what, if any, increase will be decided. Staff is currently finalizing their recommendations for our discussion this Thursday night.”
Allers had previously expressed apprehension about funding the increases security expenses from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for fireworks detail unless other revenues from visitors were found. Allers also questioned town staff if it could eliminate the $250,000 line item that the town has had in its budget since 2022 for a planned community policing program which would increase the presence of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office on the island. The Sheriff’s Office already has regular patrols in the town and the town also pays extra for traffic patrols during its busy tourist season.
Preliminary budget changes from town staff would make cuts to staff and programming at the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus and at the Mound House. The cuts include the elimination of $200,000 budgeted for special events at Bay Oaks.
The town received a $1.2 million matching grant from the state in the recent budget session to cover repairs to the south water tower, road infrastructure and stormwater improvements. The grant requires the town to match the $1.2 million with its own spending though it is not clear based on statements made by Onzick if this budget addresses that.
Due to increased revenues, about $1.5 million less from the state bridge loan can be used this year compared to last year when the town used the loan to make up for losses of revenue.
Among the losses in revenue, is funding from Tourist Development Council funds for two neighborhood service rangers which now have to be funded through town taxes.
The town has 69 full-time employees, which is down about 18 employees from last year. That includes unfilled positions that were eliminated.
King has suggested the town initiate a hiring freeze. The town has 14 vacant positions that are being advertised.