VOLUME 63, NUMBER 30
Tax roll value estimates for islands increase
By TIFFANY REPECKI
Page 1 n Week of Wednesday, June 11, 2025
WEEK OF JUNE 11, 2025
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By TIFFANY REPECKI
T
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he Sanibel School held its final day of school on June 3 as classes let out for the summer. “They have been magical,” Principal Jennifer Lusk said of the last few days. Students took part in the Annual Talent Show, with the closing act provided by the faculty.
“It was heartwarming to see our kids in kindergarten all the way up to 8th grade perform,” she said, adding that they were excited to kick off their summer, but still excited to come back next year. Also on the last day, the eighth graders moving on to high school participated in the traditional parade through the hallways, cheered on by students and staffers holding signs and See LAST DAY, page 17
The Sanibel School faculty performs the closing act during the students’ Annual Talent Show on June 3, which marked the last day of the school year for the School District of Lee County.
The Sanibel City Council discussed a proposed special assessment to fund dredging in the Wulfert Channel and Dinkins Bayou area at its recent meeting, as well as approved a study related to the Sanibel Causeway and one focused on speed limits for three roadways. On June 2, the council considered a resolution that would declare its intent to establish a Wulfert Channel and Dinkins Bayou Area Dredging Assessment District and a special assessment to finance im-
provements for maintenance dredging in the Wulfert Channel, Sunset Bay and Dinkins Bayou. City Manager Dana Souza opened the discussion by explaining that the proposed project was initiated by requests from residents who found that the recent hurricanes deposited sediment in the Wulfert Channel, Sunset Bay and Dinkins Bayou areas, which is restricting boating access to open waters and has created hazards for marine navigation. Natural Resources Director Holly Milbrandt provided an overview of the
proposed dredging plan. For the Wulfert Channel, the city would utilize an emergency permit issued in March by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but the project must begin by Sept. 1 to use that. The operation would entail a dredge depth of -6 feet NAVD and an estimated dredge volume of 9,250 cubic yards. For Dinkins Bayou, the city applied for another emergency permit, but it had not yet been approved as of the meeting. The operation would entail a dredge depth
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ALSOINSIDETODAY Guest Commentary........................4 Web Poll...........................................4 Captiva Current...............................6 Business......................................8 Preserving Paradise.....................12 Island Living..................................14 Sports.........................................16 Classifieds 35
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Island Reporter
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ISLANDERINSIDE
THE SANIBEL SCHOOL
City council discusses proposed dredging project, more
By TIFFANY REPECKI
captivasanibel.com
Island school students, staff mark last day of year
The initial property tax valuations for Sanibel and Captiva have increased over 2024. The Lee County Property Appraiser’s Office released its preliminary estimated tax roll values on June 1, which indicate a 1.05% increase for the city of Sanibel and a 4.84% increase for Captiva as part of unincorpoMatt Caldwell rated Lee County. The initial valuations for the fire districts varied, depending on the island. County Property Appraiser Matt Caldwell reported in a statement that the value estimates provide a starting point to taxing authorities for their annual budget See TAX ROLL VALUE, page 17
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