City previews $312M FY2026 capital program and $183M operating budget; warns of heavy debt for police HQ

Fort Myers staff told the council their FY2026 budget package would add significant capital spending and some operating positions while relying on reserves and new debt for large projects.

Budget staff described a proposed general-fund operating budget of about $183.2 million (roughly 6% above the adopted 2025 budget) and a one-year capital program of $312.5 million driven largely by regulatory utility projects and major facility builds. The five-year CIP the city previewed totals nearly $992.2 million when rolled with existing multi-year projects; utilities projects accounted for much of the near-term total, including central-plant work and an approximately $140 million water-plant program noted as regulatory-driven. The budget includes adding about eight general-fund positions (parks, engineering, building maintenance, and public safety) and several utility and solid-waste roles; the total new-general-fund personnel cost noted was about $866,970 for one group of positions plus other fund-supported hires.

Staff said the police headquarters will require a substantial debt issuance (an estimated $50 million in 2026 plus another $76 million in 2027 in the current plan) and that the city may use proceeds from a planned news-press site sale, lines of credit and future bond sales to fund projects. Staff also proposed using $5.3 million in reserves for targeted FY2026 needs (street paving, ERP completion and stadium demolition). The council scheduled public budget hearings on Sept. 3 and Sept. 15 as part of the formal adoption timeline.