Charlotte County commissioners received a detailed update this week on the rising cost of major construction projects funded through the county’s 1% local sales tax, with several developments now projected to cost double their original budgets.
During the update, Charlotte County Facilities Director Travis Perdue outlined which projects are under design or construction and where costs have increased most significantly. He told commissioners construction expenses have climbed sharply in recent years.
Perdue said the cost of construction has risen by about 50% since the original projections were prepared before the COVID-19 pandemic. Commissioner Bill Truex, who works in the building industry, agreed that prices remain far above where they stood in March 2020, noting they are 40% to 50% higher.
Commission Chair Joe Tiseo said those increases require the county to reevaluate several projects and determine where cuts may be possible.
That discussion began when Perdue reviewed two operations currently housed in leased buildings. Those leases expire in 2027 and 2028, and county staff initially proposed replacing each with newly constructed facilities. Tiseo questioned whether new construction is necessary.
A rendering shows the planned Fire Station 17 near U.S. 41 and Green Gulf Boulevard in South County. Its projected cost has climbed to $11.36 million, more than double the original budget.
Charlotte County government
One of the leased buildings is the county’s radio management warehouse, which costs $2,820 per month in rent. Tiseo said he rounded that figure to $3,000 for comparison. The projected cost to build a replacement is $1.5 million, an amount he said equates to roughly 42 years of lease payments. He questioned whether employees could remain in the existing facility instead.
“Roads for me is a must do,” Tiseo said, adding that the county should look closely at whether the warehouse can continue to support operations without a new building.
The leased sheriff’s station drew similar scrutiny. It costs $7,182 per month in rent, but the cost of building a replacement has climbed from its original $6.23 million estimate to a projected $11.5 million. Tiseo calculated the numbers using a rounded $10,000 monthly rent and said the new building’s projected price tag equates to 97 years of lease payments.
Perdue told commissioners he would review the projects with staff, explore potential cost-saving options and report back with updated information.
The projects under discussion are funded primarily by the county’s 1% local option sales tax approved by voters in 2014 and renewed in 2020. The tax is levied in addition to Florida’s statewide 6% sales tax and is used for public safety, infrastructure, parks and recreation and other public projects. The measure will appear again on the ballot in November 2026.
While some projects face steep cost increases, others funded by the 2014 and 2020 sales tax referendums are approaching completion.
A rendering depicts the planned Port Charlotte Recreation Center, funded through the county’s 1% sales tax. The project now carries a $24.5 million budget and is scheduled for completion in winter 2026.
Charlotte County government
The Port Charlotte Recreation Center and the adjoining Port Charlotte Beach Pool, both funded through the 2020 sales tax, are moving forward. The 20,751-square-foot recreation center now carries a $24.5 million budget, while the 5,765-square-foot pool house and locker room complex is budgeted at $8.2 million. Both are scheduled for completion in winter 2026.
The county also plans to replace the South County Annex, 410 Taylor St. in Punta Gorda. The building has sustained repeated hurricane damage, and county staff are searching for a new site while determining how much space is needed. Commissioner Chris Constance said he does not believe the current location is suitable, citing the need for adequate parking and space for the Supervisor of Elections. The project’s design phase is targeted for 2027, with construction expected in 2028.
A rendering shows the future pool and locker room complex at Port Charlotte Beach Park, an $8.2 million project funded by the county’s sales tax. Completion is expected in winter 2026.
Charlotte County government
Several fire stations also are slated for replacement or expansion. Fire Station 6 will move to 1020 Bloxham Ave., where a 9,948-square-foot, three-stall station is planned. Its budget has increased from $4.5 million to $10.06 million.
In South County, population growth is driving the need for Fire Station 17 at U.S. 41 and Green Gulf Boulevard near Tuckers Grade. Originally budgeted at $5.5 million, the project is now projected at $11.36 million, with construction expected to begin in winter 2026.
Fire Station 3 in Punta Gorda will also be replaced with a new two-story, three-stall building costing $10.04 million, up from the original $4.5 million projection. Construction is scheduled for the spring of 2027.
Other improvements include upgrades at William R. Gaines Jr. Veterans Memorial Park in Port Charlotte, where the projected cost has increased to $3.28 million from $1.75 million. G.C. Herring Park in Rotonda West, recently reclassified as a community park, is slated for new amenities and upgrades costing $4.88 million, up from $2.79 million. Construction is planned for fall 2026.