Captiva fire board OKs budget, millage rate
The Captiva Island Fire Control District’s commission recently adopted the final millage rate and budget for fiscal year 2024-25 at its second and final budget hearing.
On Sept. 23, the commissioners voted unanimously 3-0 to approve an operating rate of 2.2900 mills. The millage rate is 3.2% below the rolled-back rate, which is 2.3656 mills, and lower than the 2.6052 mills initially set at the first budget hearing.
The commission also voted 3-0 to approve a final budget of $5,725,351 for fiscal year 2024-25.
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 $1,517,100,899.
Prior to the voting, Fire Chief Jeff Pawul reiterated that staff proposed at the first hearing the same millage rate as fiscal year 2023-24, but now the proposals are for 2.3656 mills or 2.2900 mills.
“These two being proposed are reductions from that,” he said.
Pawul explained that the difference would be a reserves allocation of 23% or 20%.
“It’s really whichever you feel more comfortable with on reserves,” he said.
Pawul noted that the intent is to eventually be able return to the pre-Hurricane Ian millage rate.
“Obviously, the goal is to trend back down to where we were,” he said.
Commissioner Jeff Brown reported that the district had to increase its millage rate last September for the 2023-24 fiscal year because of the reduction in property values due to the damages from Ian.
“I’d like to go slightly below the rolled-back rate,” he said. “And keep moving back to where we were.”
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email