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Library and fire boards set budget hearings

By Staff | Sep 11, 2019

September is a big month for budgets as various taxing entities hold public hearings in advance of the new fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

The Fort Myers Beach Library and the Fort Myers Beach Fire Department each will hold two hearings beginning this week.

The Fort Myers Beach Public Library Board will hold its first public budget hearing today, Sept. 11, beginning at 5:01 p.m. with its second and final hearing to be held Tuesday, Sept. 24, at 6 p.m.

The Fort Myers Beach Fire Department Board of Fire Commissioners will hold its first public hearing this Thursday, Sept. 12, at 5:15 p.m., according to their department web site, with the second and final hearing to be announced.

Meetings for both entities, which will set their respective tax rates and approve their FY 2020 budgets, will be held at the Fort Myers Beach Library, 2755 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach Fire Department:

– Total operating expenditures: $13.8 million

– Tentative millage rate: 2.98 mills

– 2018/19 millage rate: 2.61 mills

Boundary area: Fort Myers Beach, San Carlos Island and Fort Myers Beach, San Carlos Island, and mainland communities up to Pine Ridge Road.

The Fort Myers Beach Fire Department’s proposed budget is capped at a millage rate of 2.98, which is the maximum they could set for millage, and a slight increase of the 2018-2019 millage of 2.61 mills. One mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of taxable assessed property valuation. This represents an increase on a home with a taxable assessed valuation of $100,000 from $261 per year to $298 per yer, an overall increase of $37 on average for this instance.

The department has leftover budget savings from last year, which will be applied to new projects and funding.

Vehicle maintenance and repair is always the most expensive budget requirement outside of staffing.

Fire Chief Matthew Love has been out and so was unavailable for comment by press time.

Library Proposed Budget

– Proposed Operating Budget: $1.49 Million

– Proposed Millage: .32 mills per $1,000

– 2019 Budget: $1.31

– 2019 Millage: 0.33 mills

The library tax rate, as proposed, is down a fraction from last year. The current rate is .33 mills, the propose .32 mills, saving a penny per $1,000 of taxable assessed valuation.

“We’re focused on staffing and emergency savings, disaster funding is something we have the ability to do ourselves, and with no massive projects planned, more funding isn’t necessary,” said John Lukow, assistant director of the Fort Myers Beach Library.

The library plans on adding a part time position this year, and possibly a full time position later on, but there are no new additions otherwise.

You can contact the Library at (239) 765-8162.