Sanibel fire board OKs budget, millage rate
The Sanibel Fire and Rescue District’s commission recently adopted the final millage rate and budget for fiscal year 2023-24 at its second and final budget hearing, as well as held its monthly meeting.
On Sept. 20, the commissioners voted unanimously 3-0 to approve an operating rate of 1.400 mills, which exceeds the rolled-back rate of 1.1061 and results in a 26.57% tax increase for residents.
The adopted 1.400 will provide the district with about $5,904,905 in proceeds.
The board also voted 3-0 to approve a final budget of about $16,225,211 for the new year.
The Lee County Property Appraiser’s Office has certified that the gross taxable value for operating purposes not exempt from taxation in Lee County to the district as $4,217,789,351.
Prior to voting, Fire Chief Kevin Barbot explained that while the district’s revenues for the coming year will total about $5.9 million, it is about $2.1 million less than the about $8 million collected this year.
He reiterated the issue with this year’s “rolled-back rate” and property value loss due to the storm.
Barbot also noted that the commission initially approved a not-to-exceed of 1.8753 mills.
“When all’s said and done, we have reduced that drastically,” he said.
“It’s also worth noting that we’re the lowest taxing district in the county,” Commissioner Richard McCurry added.
MONTHLY MEETING
Before the final budget hearing, the commissioners held their monthly meeting.
In separate but related motions, the board voted 3-0 for it to serve as the selection committee for picking the district’s new financial auditor, to use the evaluation factors presented by administrative staff to select the new auditor and to issue a request for proposal to auditors to begin the process.
Also during the meeting, Barbot gave an update on the rebuild of Station 172.
He reported that the architectural firm hit the 60% mark on the design and he is now waiting on the second set of cost estimates, which will provide a clearer financial picture than the preliminary one that was about $8.5 million. They will also be able to see where cost reductions and such could be made.
Barbot continued that the design could go before the Sanibel Planning Commission in October. If approved, the project would then proceed on to permitting and then out to bid for construction.
He estimated late January or early February for demolition to begin on the old station.
Barbot also reported that the district will be submitting funding requests for House and Senate appropriations bills. The aim is to cover anything not funded by the state or FEMA. As for FEMA, the replacement is at about $5.5 million as a 75/25% cost share, so about $4 million for the rebuild.
Also at the meeting, he reported on the promotions of Mike Martin and Robert Wilkins to captain beginning today, Sept. 25. In addition, Capt. Chris Jackson will be promoted to assistant fire chief.
Among his duties, Jackson will serve as construction manager for the Station 172 rebuild, will work on logistics, grants and federal funding, and will assist Division Chief of Fire Prevention Larry Williams.
Barbot also shared new hires: Ronnie Petito on Aug. 28 and Dayan Conception to start today, Sept. 25.
IN OTHER NEWS
– Deputy Fire Chief John DiMaria reported that the crews recently trained at Sand Pointe Condo on West Gulf Drive. The topics included proper apparatus placement and pumping operations, search and rescue techniques, radio communications, hose management, and the incident command structure.
– Williams reported that plan reviews this year are up to about 670 because of the storm.
He handled more than 100 of them in August.
“That was the biggest month so far,” Williams said.
– From January through August, the district responded to about 633 calls.
“We’re down still about 54% from last year,” DiMaria said.
For the same timeframe in 2022, the district had responded to 1,259 calls.