The Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District Board of Fire Commissioners unanimously approved a budget which will lower the millage rate for property owners in the district from 2.8 mills per thousand dollars of taxable property value to 2.76 mills.
The budget utilized an increase in property values and the district’s reserves to lower the millage rate, Fort Myers Beach Fire Chief Scott Wirth said.
The district’s taxable property value went up this past year to $5.46 billion, an increase from the $4.87 billion in the 2024-25 budget.
While the district is seeing a substantial increase in property value, the operating budget this year will increase by 29% from $17.18 million to $22.16 in part due to a $2 million increase in capital expenses as the district continues its construction project for a new fire station on Estero Boulevard, and embarks on new projects including a new administrative facility and training center off Shrimp Boat Lane on San Carlos Island.
The district is budgeting $4.65 million for construction projects, a 76% increase over last year. The budget utilized reserves to pay for its current and upcoming construction projects.
Last year, the district sold its old Station 31 off Estero Boulevard and Donora Boulevard for $875,000.
The new budget includes $22.1 million in spending and leaves the district with $19.26 million in reserves.
The budget’s personnel costs will increase by 22% with $14.3 million budgeted for personnel, $3.9 million in benefits including health insurance and pension, and $1.8 million for life insurance.
The budget includes a $310,000 increase in health insurance cost and $185,000 increase in pensions.
Based on guidance from the office of the Lee County Property Appraiser, Wirth said he is expecting property values to be adjusted again next year downward.