Captiva fire commission OKs tentative millage rate, budget
The Captiva Island Fire Control District’s commission recently adopted the tentative millage rate and budget for fiscal year 2023-24 during its first budget hearing, as well as held its monthly meeting.
On Sept. 13, the commissioners voted unanimously 3-0 to approve an operating rate of 2.0850 mills — which is lower than the not-to-exceed rate of 2.2200 that they had approved last month. The tentative rate is 34.17% greater than the rolled-back rate of 1.5540 mills — the 2.2200 mills was 42.86% greater.
The millage rate can be lowered during the budget process but not raised.
The commission also voted 3-0 to approve a tentative budget of $4,880,887 for the upcoming year.
The Lee County Property Appraiser’s Office certified that the gross taxable value for operating purposes not exempt from taxation within Lee County to the district as $1,715,045,280.
Prior to the voting, Fire Chief Jeff Pawul provided an overview of the proposed budget. He reported that he and Commissioner Jeff Brown worked on it and were able to reduce the rate to the 2.0850.
They decreased the allocation for a replacement truck from $200,000 to $100,000. Pawul explained that the district traditionally pays upfront to lock in the current pricing for an apparatus, but now trucks are taking so long in the queue to be built — estimated three years, at least — that it is not an option.
Brown added that the earlier budget had it as if the district was going to start paying on Oct. 1.
“We really just need half of the year’s lease on the truck for this year’s budget,” he said.
In addition, Pawul and Brown reduced the proposed increase for the reserves. The district’s reserves currently sit at 20% and the commission had agreed to increase the amount to 25%, in particular given the impacts of Hurricane Ian. Pawul explained that they reduced the full 5% increase down to 2.5%.
Brown added that it will be 2.5% this year and 2.5% the next year to reach the 25% in reserves.
“We’re doing our best to bring it down and provide funds for the district moving forward,” he said.
Pawul also reported that the district’s fund balance would start out about $277,000 less than 2022-23. However, operating expenses were reduced about $68,000 and total use of funds only rose about 7.6%
“I feel comfortable that we can go to the lower rate,” he said of the 2.0850.
Pawul noted that if it had not been for the hundreds of millions of dollars in property value loss from Hurricane Ian and the state’s method for calculation, the rolled-back rate would have been 2.0693.
Using 2.0850 mills in the proposed budget, the total sources of funds for the district would be $4,880,887. It is broken down as $1,422,074 for the beginning reserves fund balance and $3,458,813 for revenues — ad valorem taxes, intergovernmental, charges for services, and miscellaneous.
As for expenditures, it would total $3,595,634 and consist of: $2,696,599 for personal services, $476,905 for operating expenses, $62,500 for capital outlay and $359,630 for debt service. Balancing the budget as far as total sources and uses of funds is an ending reserves balance of $1,285,253.
The second and final budget hearing is set for Sept. 27 at 5:01 p.m.
MONTHLY MEETING
Before the hearing, the commissioners held their monthly meeting.
The commission voted 3-0 on a resolution adopting an amendment to the district’s current Fund Balance Policy and eliminated the Cancer Reserve Fund. Prior to the vote, Pawul explained that those previously budgeted for reserve funds would now be reallocated to the unassigned fund balance.
Also at the meeting, Pawul presented two annual agreements from Zoll for the maintenance of the district’s two heart monitors. One service agreement was quoted at $5,733 and the second agreement, which included accidental damage coverage plus any services issues, was quoted higher at $6,939.
Pawul recommended the lower quoted agreement and the commissioners voiced their approval.
IN OTHER NEWS
– Pawul reported that he heard back from the owners of McCarthy’s Marina about the possibility of installing a boat lift for the district’s fire boat to get it out of the water and help extended its lifetime. He explained that the owners are OK with idea if the district can figure out how to get county approval.
“I don’t foresee the county really having a big issue with it,” Pawul said.
– The district responded to 46 incidents in August — less than for the same month last year.
“It is a spike over the month before,” Pawul said, attributing the increase to Hurricane Idalia calls.
– Pawul reported that one employee resigned because he is moving to New Hampshire. The job opening will be posted, and he has already received interest from a few potential candidates.
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email