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VOL 24 No. 45
July 3, 2024
AMI prepares for another crowded, extended holiday Record crowds are expected for the July Fourth holiday on Anna Maria Island, and Island officials recommend planning accordingly. BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND - As Americans wish the United States a happy 248th birthday, many people will choose to celebrate on the Island, hitting the beaches, shops, restaurants and bars with enthusiastic patriotism. On Thursday, July 4, be prepared for festivities that will last four days or more, as many will arrive as early as they are able, taking the celebration through the weekend. Last year, many Island officials believed it was one of the busiest holidays the Island has ever seen, and this year, due to the four-day weekend, they say it could be just as busy or more so.
Happy Independence Day The American flag flies over Bridge Street in celebration of Independence Day.
DeSantis vetoes vacation rental bill
The Florida Legislature’s latest attempt to preempt vacation rental regulation to the state has failed. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Ron DeSantis has vetoed proposed state legislation that would have significantly hindered city and county governments’ ability to regulate short-term vacation rentals locally. The Florida Legislature proposed the vetoed legislation as Senate Bill 280 and House Bill 1537. Legislators sought to reserve short-term vacation rental regulation and vacation rental advertising to the state, with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation serving as the statewide administrative and enforce-
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ment entity. Sen. Nick DiCeglie (R-St. Petersburg) sponsored SB 280 and State Rep. Philip Griffitts Jr. (R-Panama City Beach) sponsored House Bill 1537. Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) and State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Bradenton) supported the vacation rental preemptions sought in the matching bills. The proposed legislation also included a controversial carve-out that would have allowed Flagler County to continue enforcing its existing vacation rental regulations.
VETO LETTER
At approximately 6:30 p.m. on June 27, DeSantis sent Secretary of State Cord Byrd a letter informing him of the veto.
SEE BILL, PAGE 23
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Mayor proposes reduced millage rate Increased property values would offset the proposed millage rate reduction. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy proposes lowering Anna Maria’s current 2.05 millage rate to the 1.8245 rollback rate, or lower. The rollback rate is the rate needed to generate the same ad valorem property tax revenues generated during the current fiscal year, with increased property values producing the same revenues at a lower millage rate. When presenting his final city budget before leaving office later this year, Murphy proposed the millage reduction during the Anna Maria City Commission’s June 27 budget
TREEHOUSE to come down this month after more than a decade of challenges. 3
Anna Maria Island, Florida
SEE FOURTH, PAGE 13
The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper
meeting. Focused on projected revenues, Thursday’s meeting was the first of three preliminary budget meetings scheduled for the preparation of the 2024-25 fiscal year budget that takes effect on Oct. 1. Regarding the millage rate, Murphy said, “We’re not going to go in at 2.05. We’re actually going to start at the rollback rate which will yield $4.24 million (in ad valorem property tax revenues). I think we can actually bring it in under the rollback rate and provide all the services we need to provide for the residents of this city, so the property owners and the homeowners of our city could experience a tax reduction. I hope that you could share that goal with me as we go forward with the budget.”
SEE MILLAGE, PAGE 14
FIREWORKS, BALLOONS prohibited
on beaches. 8-9
GULF ISLAND FERRY may stop in
Holmes Beach. 11
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