County board OKs beach, shoreline projects
The Lee County Board of County Commissioners recently voted to authorize interlocal agreements to fund 13 beach and shoreline projects throughout the county using nearly $6.5 million in Tourist Development Tax revenue.
On Oct. 7, the commission approved the agreements between Lee County and the:
– Barrier Island Parks Society
– Captiva Erosion Prevention District
– City of Cape Coral
– City of Sanibel
– Town of Fort Myers Beach
– Village of Estero
– Keep Lee County Beautiful
– Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Commissioners approved the funding with the adoption of the fiscal year 2025-26 budget and the agreements authorize the work and reimbursement of expenses.
The projects primarily allow for maintenance of beach park facilities including public accesses, boardwalks, restrooms and equipment.
In the budget, the commission approved Beach and Shoreline Program funding of just more than $29 million, with about $12.4 million from fiscal year 2025-26 budgeted revenue, and about $16.6 million from prior year reserves. Projects for other amenities within Lee County were approved in the annual budget in the amount of nearly $1.4 million, all from prior year reserves.
Beach and shoreline project funding accounts for 26.4% of the proceeds from the Tourist Development Tax assessed on short-term lodging such as hotels, resorts and vacation rentals.
For more information, visit www.leevcb.com/funding-programs/beach-and-shoreline.