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Burnt Store Isles committee reviews 2026 budget proposal that would raise total assessment to $1,010
Summary
The Burnt Store Isles Canal Advisory Committee reviewed a proposed 2026 budget and five‑year plan that would raise the annual assessment to $1,010 per lot while funding seawall replacements, riprap mitigation and a land‑acquisition staging fund; committee members gave staff direction on parts of the plan but made no final city‑level approvals.
The Burnt Store Isles Canal Advisory Committee on June 10 reviewed a proposed 2026 budget and five‑year pro forma that would raise the total annual assessment to $1,010 per lot — comprising an $820 operating assessment, a $100 land‑accumulation (staging) assessment and a $90 lock‑removal surcharge — and sought direction to forward the proposal to Punta Gorda City Council.
Committee members said the package matters because it funds immediate maintenance and multi‑year capital projects: nine seawall replacement sites (about $600,000 identified in the packet), riprap mitigation tied to Hurricane Irma funding, inlet and perimeter dredging, and longer‑range items including a proposed channel corner widening study, a land‑acquisition project estimated at $500,000 for staging, and a channel corner widening estimate of $925,000.
Brad (department presenter) opened the budget workshop, saying, “This is the presentation for the 2026 budget for BSI. We're gonna be looking for your direction to take to council.” Mark Storm, Canal Maintenance Supervisor for Punta Gorda Public Works, reviewed the expenditure and project updates and called out that one construction site had moved to final billing and should be “zeroed out 100%” by the next meeting. Storm identified nine seawall sites listed as high‑risk and said crews are monitoring movement and cracking.
Staff presented the assumptions behind the pro forma: resuming a regular annual replacement program at roughly 1,100 linear feet a year (staff noted the program was historically closer to 1,200 feet), contingency of $50,000, and an administration/overhead charge of about 3% that returns to the general fund. For hurricane‑related work staff said FEMA and state assistance were being pursued at roughly 95% for certain riprap and seawall mitigation projects; permits from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been obtained where required.
On personnel and operating assumptions, staff listed estimates used in the draft: a 4% merit pool for salaries, an 8% estimate for health insurance, 7% for dental and a conservative workers’ compensation estimate in the mid‑teens; staff emphasized those line items are revised downward during final budget compilation.
Committee discussion focused on pace and fairness of assessment increases and whether to add an extra $100 in 2026 to accelerate land acquisition. Several members expressed concern about community “sticker shock” if assessments pass $1,000. One committee member summarized the group’s leaning that they would not support adding the additional $100 assessment for 2026 and asked staff to proceed without that increase.
Members did reach a separate understanding about the existing $90 lock‑removal surcharge: staff said the lock debt service runs through 2028, and members agreed the $90 could be rolled into the operating assessment in 2028 rather than continue as a separate surcharge. Staff recorded the committee’s direction and said they would take notes back to department budget staff (Kristen) to prepare materials for Council.
These were recommendations and directions from the committee to staff; no binding change to Punta Gorda City assessments or tax rates was adopted at the meeting. Next steps: staff will finalize the budget exhibits for council presentation and carry forward unspent FY25 hurricane revenues into FY26 per the usual rollover process.
