CEPD approves tentative budget
The Captiva Erosion Prevention District approved its tentative budget and levying of ad valorem taxes during its meeting last week with opposition from one commissioner.
The gross taxable value for CEPD operating purposes, which is not exempt from taxation in Lee County and has been certified by the county property appraiser, is $1,542,825,679. The tentative operating millage is .4395 mills, which is greater than the rolled back rate of .4295 mills by 2.33 percent.
“Basically the millage rate is increasing because of the property values. We are not bumping up the rate, it is just the property values,” CEPD Chairman Rene Miville said.
One mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of taxable property valuation. The rollback rate is the rate at which a property owner would pay essentially the same amount in property tax despite an increase in valuation
The commissioners were told that for the current fiscal year there is currently $311,000 surplus in the General, or operating, fund for September, estimating $30,000 of expenses, leaving a total of $280,000 surplus for the current fiscal year.
The board also approved an appropriations and revenue estimate for the fiscal year budget in the amount of $678,072.
Commissioner Mike Mullins told the commissioners that he would vote against both of the resolutions.
“Why would we need an increase of any kind when last year we had a significant increase and the year before a significant increase? We are probably $200,000 above where we were three years ago. That is better than a 33 percent increase. I just don’t see it. I would rather see us lean and have enough money in that surplus that is already there and do the things that we want to do and not support an increase of any kind. I don’t think it is fair to the taxpayers and I am opposed to a tax increase,” he said.
Executive Director Jennifer Nelson said they are not voting for an increase, as they are keeping the millage rate the same as the previous year. With the same millage rate, it would give them an increase of about $20,000, which is a 2.33 percent increase, she said.
“This is a budget increase. Why do we need to accumulate more money when it is not needed?” Mullins asked.
Commissioner Richard Pyle said he would vote in favor of the budget because it is reflective of what CEPD’s revenues are going to be and reflective of the commitments the board has made for the future.
“Such as another $75,000 to help SCCF and we are going to be looking at some things that the new resiliency coordinator is going to be looking at,” he said. “I don’t mind having a budget surplus because by the time the year is done we have committed the CEPD to something that has reduced that surplus.”
Pyle went on to say that he is worried about their grant income, as if they come up short, they are going to wish they had the budget that is being proposed. He said he agreed that over the last couple of years the budget has come up a fair amount and he was in favor of not raising it, but a conversation with Nelson changed his mind.
“Talking with Jennifer she has more than enough ideas to appropriately expend any excess things that we have,” Pyle said.
Mullins said it did not sit well with him to have extra money there to let people dream up of ideas of what to do with it.
The final budget will be voted on during CEPD’s Sept. 23 meeting.