Resident Jim Fuccillo shares his frustrations with Commissioners about the millage rates.
SUN PHOTO BY NICOLE DROEGER
PUNTA GORDA — This year’s property taxes are up 1.46% from fiscal year 2026 in Charlotte County.
County commissioners adopted the final millage rate for fiscal year 2027 on Monday during the final budget hearing. The countywide millage rate is 6.1275, amounting to $215.8 million in revenue.
A millage rate is the rate of tax per thousand dollars of a property’s assessed value. For example, a house valued at $300,000 multiplied by .0061275 is $1,838.25 in property taxes.
County commissioners initially considered a 6.1576 millage rate for 2027 but decided to reduce it to the current rate.
The millage rate in FY 26 was 6.0394, $208.13 million in revenue.
In addition to the millage rate, there are also a handful of other taxes and fees, including street drainage and maintenance Municipal Service Benefit Units, plus a second property tax rate for the Charlotte County Public Schools District.
In addition to the county’s property taxes, the school board adopted a rate of 6.272 mils for the coming year. This adds an additional $1,881.60 or $3,719.85 in total for a property with an assessed value of $300,000.
The County’s MSBU revenue fund is $448.58 million.
The 2027 budget, totaling $2.8 billion, is comprised of:
General fund: $341 millionSpecial revenue: $979 millionDebt services: $25 millionCapital funds: $812 millionEnterprise/Internal services funds: $658 million
The operating budget for 2027 is $704 million, a 4.92% increase from $671 million from last year.
The total budget is $2.8 billion. The county subtracts $1.02 billion for interdepartmental/interfund transfers and reserves, bringing the net budget to $1.8 billion
The only resident to speak during the public hearing was Jim Fuccillo, who is upset with the lack of fiscal conservatism in the county.
“True fiscal conservatism is making difficult choices,” Fuccillo said. “Find efficiency in cutting back on loaded county operations. It does not mean looking to the taxpayers.”
Commissioners unanimously approved the millage rate resolution and budget resolution.
Sheriff’s Office Budget
Charlotte County’s Sheriff’s Office millage rate for 2027 is 2.6604, or $93.7 million, a significant portion of this year’s property tax funds.
Last year, CCSO had a millage rate of 2.5723, $88.65 million. This year’s rate increased by 3.42%.
Sheriff Bill Prumell said in a previous budget hearing that he wanted to add two more traffic units. Rate increases also accommodate for raises in employee salaries.
CCSO removed the requested amount for a replacement patrol vehicle, reduced airframe insurance for the Blackhawk helicopter and reduced jail medical insurance.
Total reduction was $1.82 million from the proposed budget. Despite this, CCSO’s budget is up $5.05 million from last year.
Each fiscal year begins on Oct. 1.