Fort Myers Beach sets tentative FY2026 millage to cover budget gap; public hearings slated for September

Fort Myers Beach’s Town Council set a tentative, not‑to‑exceed millage for fiscal year 2026 after finance staff outlined a budget shortfall driven by frozen, pre‑hurricane baseline revenue calculations and rising costs.

At a regularly scheduled meeting the council voted 4–1 to adopt a tentative millage rate that would provide the town with additional revenue to close an estimated operating gap for FY2026. Finance director Joe Anzick and town staff presented a high‑level budget snapshot that showed ad valorem (property tax) revenue increasing because of a rise in taxable value, and non‑ad valorem revenues growing in part due to parking and other receipts. Even with those increases, staff said the town faces a structural gap because certain revenue lines are still measured against pre‑Hurricane Ian (FY2022) baselines in the bridge‑loan calculation and the amount the town is allowed to draw from the existing bridge loan is limited.

Staff briefing: Anzick told council that projecting FY2026 revenues against the town’s statutory…