CEPD reports on TRIM notices coming in mail
The Captiva Erosion Prevention District advised property owners that they should expect to receive their annual TRIM notices soon and they should confirm their information on record is accurate.
Last week, the CEPD explained that property owners on Captiva and throughout Lee County are beginning to receive their TRIM, or Truth in Millage, notices from the Lee County property appraiser. It is a process that informs taxpayers which governmental entities are responsible for taxes levied.
“It is important to understand that this is a notice and not a bill,” it reported on Aug. 16.
“The ‘proposed’ millage rate and budget is prepared by staff to reflect what services have been requested by the board of commissioners,” the CEPD said. “It is intended to set a ceiling, or maximum amount, that the board may decide to levy, not what the actual levy will be or what is suggested.”
It provided a table and explained that the rollback, majority and two thirds rates shown are established by a prepared calculation and will be the budgets that the board will base its decision on this year.
“Property owners may notice that the budget from CEPD appears to be a large increase,” the CEPD said. “Staff would like to take this moment to assure all Captiva property owners that CEPD will not be passing or suggesting that the board consider a 132 percent increase and would not be able to do so without a referendum.”
It also provided the general fund budget, explaining that the budget was crafted to consider building capital for property acquisition and significantly increased efforts on the island’s bayside projects.
“These initiatives, while necessary for the future of the district, should not be considered until a strategic plan is in effect,” the CEPD said.
In addition, the CEPD recommended that all property owners ensure their mailing address with the property appraiser’s office is up-to-update so that all mailings are received in a timely fashion.
“CEPD sends out many mailings throughout the year, in accordance with its enabling legislation,” it said. “The CEPD must send its mail to property owners addresses as they are recorded on the last available tax roll.”
The CEPD also encouraged public attendance at meetings.
For agendas, materials and meeting information, visit www.mycepd.com.
IN OTHER NEWS
– On Aug. 19, the CEPD board took part in a briefing and heard a lobbyist proposal from the firm Becker (Becker & Poliakoff). Prior to the presentation, Executive Director Jennifer Nelson explained that Commissioner Mike Mullins had started the discussion about maybe using the firm’s services.
She noted that the firm has worked with the city of Cape Coral, where she is a councilmember.
Becker representatives Nick Matthews and Ellyn Bogdanoff provided an overview of the firm and work that it has done, and they discussed the legal and consulting services that it could provide.