Cape Coral City Council members listen during a previous meeting. On July 22, Council approved the maximum property tax rate and proposed special assessment fees for fiscal 2027, with final budget hearings scheduled for September.
Evan Williams
Cape Coral homeowners may see a slight increase in property tax rates and special assessment fees on their bills for the coming year.
City Council on July 22 voted 7-1 to set the maximum millage rate at 5.1988 mills, or $5.1988 per $1,000 of taxable property value, to fund its annual budget. A home with a taxable value of $100,000 would incur a tax of $519.88.
The proposed 5.1988-mill ceiling is the rolled-back rate, which is designed to generate the same amount of ad valorem revenue the city received last year under its 5.1471-mill rate.
The Lee County Property Appraiser valued Cape Coral’s taxable property at $33.1 billion as of July 1.
Council can still lower the rate during budget hearings in September but cannot raise it. Under state law, officials plan to approve a tentative tax rate and budget at a public hearing at 5:05 p.m. Sept. 10, followed by final adoption at 5:05 p.m. Sept. 24, before the 2026-27 fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
The proposed rolled-back rate would generate $165.2 million for the city’s $285 million general fund, which pays for basic services, including $95 million for police, $51.8 million for government services, $37.5 million for information technology and $19.4 million for the fire department.
The general fund accounts for nearly 20% of the city’s proposed $1.4 billion budget for the coming year.
Council member Derrick Donnell cast the lone dissenting vote, arguing the city should adopt a higher “not-to-exceed” millage rate to give officials more flexibility during the budget process.
Cape Coral’s Public Works Department is among the city services supported through the General Fund. City Council approved a maximum property tax rate for fiscal 2027 as officials continue work on the proposed $1.4 billion budget.
Evan Williams
In addition to the standard millage rate, council members approved a 0.1554-mill levy to pay debt service on the city’s parks general obligation bond, which voters approved in 2018.
Council also approved the city staff’s proposed special assessment fees for residential stormwater, fire protection, solid waste and lot mowing services. A final vote on those fees is scheduled for Aug. 26.
The proposed annual assessments include a stormwater fee of $163, up $7 from last year. The fee funds environmental, water quality, flood prevention and drainage services and improvements.
Cape Coral plans to keep its solid waste rate at $384.24 per dwelling unit, unchanged from last year. Waste Pro and the Lee County Solid Waste Division provide the services.
Residents could see a slight reduction in their fire protection assessment. The city estimates the average single-family home valued at about $275,000 will pay $515.43, a 4.58% decrease from fiscal 2025-26.
The city also slightly increased rates for mowing vacant lots. The service, which includes pepper tree removal and owl nest trimming, is provided 13 times a year. The maximum estimated cost per lot for fiscal 2026-27 is $75.89 in District 1, $52.99 in District 2, $56.95 in District 3 and $48.43 in District 4.