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Bonita Springs sets 2026 budget calendar; staff flags 5% municipal revenue‑sharing cut and legislative strategy

Bonita Springs City Council · February 18, 2026

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Summary

Finance staff outlined the 2026 budget calendar (June start, June 17 workshop, July 15 preliminary millage vote, Sept. 9 tentative hearing, Sept. 23 final hearing) and reported an expected 5% reduction in municipal revenue sharing; council also heard lobbyist updates that most state funding requests remain 'in play' but the Public Safety Building is not currently included.

Finance staff (Lisa) presented the December financial report and laid out the 2026 budget calendar: the process begins in June with a preliminary budget workshop on Wednesday, June 17 at 4 p.m.; a preliminary millage‑rate and stormwater utility vote is set for Wednesday, July 15; budget updates will follow in August; the tentative budget hearing is scheduled for Sept. 9 with final adoption on Sept. 23.

Staff also told the council the city received notice of a 5 percent reduction in municipal revenue sharing from the state. "We were notified this last month that we will receive a 5% reduction in our municipal revenue sharing," the presenter said, and staff said the reduction was anticipated and built into the city's budget model.

Council also heard a lobbyist update on state appropriations. Staff said several legislative asks remain in play on either the House or Senate side, but the Public Safety Building / emergency operations center is not currently included. Deputy Mayor Jesse Purdon described the situation as fragile and warned against changing current requests: "It's like Jenga. You just don't touch it," he said, arguing that pulling one request could imperil others.

Staff said design work for projects funded via CIP continues so the city can refine cost estimates. The council was urged to wait on last‑minute changes and let staff and the lobbyist monitor which projects have momentum before prioritizing any retraction of requests.

The council received the budget calendar for scheduling and staff will return with budget documents as the process unfolds.