Bonita Springs council adopts tentative millage rate, approves tentative FY2026 budget
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Summary
City council adopted a tentative ad valorem millage rate of 0.847 mills (a 5.06% increase over the rolled-back rate) and approved a tentative FY2026 budget totaling $49,775,210; a public commenter urged more spending on Little Hickory Island improvements.
The Bonita Springs City Council adopted a tentative ad valorem millage rate of 0.847 mills and approved the city’s tentative fiscal year 2026 budget at its Sept. 3 council meeting.
The tentative millage rate — 0.847 mills, or $0.847 per $1,000 of assessed value — was approved on a 5-2 roll call. Council members voting in favor were Mayor Gibson, Council members Corey, Follick (listed in transcript as “Fullick/Fullock”), Fitzpatrick and Bogaz; Deputy Mayor Purdon and Council member Carr voted no. The city’s certified gross taxable value for operating purposes was read at $18,752,174,238.
The council also approved the tentative FY2026 budget by unanimous roll call. The tentative budget lists expenditures by fund as: General Fund $23,685,280; Special Revenue $5,294,500; Debt Service $1,560,730; Capital Projects $19,234,700; for a total of $49,775,210.
City staff said the millage increase is intended to fund stormwater and transportation improvements, environmental protection projects, community aesthetics and capital projects in the coming fiscal year. The resolution sets a public hearing for final adoption of the millage and budget at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 17, 2025, at Bonita Springs City Hall, 9101 Bonita Beach Road.
During the budget hearing portion of the meeting one registered speaker, Ron George of Little Hickory Island, urged the council to ensure the city continues planned improvements on the Little Hickory Island end and said the area had been waiting about three years for the work. “I was just looking over the budget… I’m still waiting for my end of Little Hickory Island to see the improvements that the city has been planning for about 3 years now,” George said.
The council’s approvals on Sept. 3 were tentative actions required by Florida Statute 200.065 to set the advertised millage and budget for the formal adoption process in mid-September. The resolutions adopted at the meeting become effective upon adoption but the final millage and budget will be determined after the public hearing on Sept. 17.
