Captiva fire commission OKs final millage rate, budget
The Captiva Island Fire Control District’s commission recently adopted the final millage rate and budget for fiscal year 2023-24 at its second and final budget hearing.
On Sept. 27, the commissioners voted unanimously 3-0 to approve an operating rate of 2.0850 mills, which is 34.17% above the rolled-back rate of 1.5540, but lower than the earlier 2.2200 not-to-exceed.
Fire Chief Jeff Pawul noted that the 2.0850 is only a 5.47% increase over the prior year’s budget.
He previously explained that if it had not been for the hundreds of millions of dollars in property value loss from Hurricane Ian and the state’s calculation method, the rolled-back would have been 2.0693.
The commission also voted 3-0 to approve a final budget of $4,880,887 for the new 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.
Based on the final approved budget, the total sources of funds for the district will break 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.
Expenditures will 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 will be an ending reserves balance of $1,285,253.
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