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Sanibel council approves tentative millage, budget

By CHUCK BALLARO - | Sep 22, 2021

The Sanibel City Council on Sept. 13 approved the tentative millage and budget during a special meeting at city hall, the first of two public hearings for the city budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year.

In a year where extra long meetings have been the norm, it took the council 24 minutes to unanimously approve the tentative, not-to-exceed millage rate of 1.8922 — the same as last year. The council cannot increase the millage, but can reduce it, if so desired.

One mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of taxable property valuation. Property values on Sanibel increased 3.65 percent in 2021. The average Sanibel household pays on average $9,545 in city and county taxes.

The city council also unanimously approved the tentative budget of $76,711,153, about $29.1 million of which is in the general fund. The budget is about $3 million less than the amended city budget of 2020-21.

There will be about $21.8 million in reserves and $11.5 million in special revenue funds.

Council praised the job city staff did on the budget, despite the fact there are some unknowns such as how much money Lee County will collect from the tolls, particularly the one on the Sanibel Causeway, of which the city gets a percentage.

The budget and millage will be ratified at the second and final public hearing on Sept. 27 at 5:01 p.m. at City Hall, at 800 Dunlap Road, Sanibel.