WEEK OF JULY 16, 2025
VOLUME 63, NUMBER 35
School district earns ‘B’ grade for recent year
Sanibel fire board sets tentative millage rate, hears updates
Sanibel school maintains its ‘A’ By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
By TIFFANY REPECKI
T
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
he Sanibel Fire and Rescue District’s commission approved the not-to-exceed millage rate and budget hearings for fiscal year 2025-26 during its meeting, as well as was updated on the two fire stations. On July 9, the commissioners voted 2-0 on a resolution to adopt a tentative millage rate of 1.3915 mills, which exceeds the rolled-back rate of 1.1650 mills, resulting in a tax increase of 19.44%. Commissioner Jerry Muench was attending remotely, so he could not vote. SANIBEL FIRE AND RESCUE DISTRICT The millage rate can be lowered during the upcom- The Sanibel Fire and Rescue District recently received its new ing budget process but not raised. search-and-rescue boat. At the fire commission’s meeting The gross taxable value for the district is on July 9, it was agreed that the vessel would be given the $5,600,127,320. honorary name of the Lady Diana in recognition of the woman The budget hearings will be held on Sept. 3 and Sept. who spurred its purchase. 16 at 5:01 p.m. budget was $6,372,543 with a millage of 1.4 and value of Prior to the vote, Fire Chief Kevin Barbot provided an up$4,551,816,753 — a 19.43% decrease. For 2022-23, the date on the preliminary property valuations compared to the budget was $7,909,506 with a millage of 1.2365 and value initial estimates, plus showed previous values and past budgets of $6,396,689,211 — a 6.52% increase. For 2021-22, the and millage rates. budget was $7,425,569 with a millage of 1.3089 and value of He explained that the preliminary valuations released in $5,673,137,177 — a 22.31% increase. July by the Lee County Property Appraiser’s Office indicated a In reviewing the proposed budget, he reported that the dis20.19% increase over last year to $5,635,442,483. However, trict is facing increases for the employee retirement system, after reviewing the figures himself and talking with officials, health insurance and property insurance. Barbot noted that the correct increase is 19.44% to the $5,600,127,320 value. Station 172 on Sanibel-Captiva Road has not yet been added Barbot continued that the current millage of 1.3915 would on to the district’s insurance, so they have to plan for that too. bring in $7,792,577 in tax revenue. One fire engine is a 2012 vehicle and the district typically For fiscal year 2024-25, the district’s budget is $6,524,177 gets 10-15 years out of them. with the 1.3915 mills and a final valuation of $4,688,592,704 — a 2.38% increase over the prior year. For 2023-24, the See FIRE BOARD, page 18
CLASAC to consider island property nomination
The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) reported that the Conservation Land Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Committee (CLASAC) will review the nomination for the 34-acre Sanibel Community Church property at its meeting today,
July 16. The evaluation is the first step toward being acquired by Lee County for conservation. The SCCF continued that the property is presently approved for up to 24 development units (houses) and could instead be preserved and restored to provide important
ecosystem and stormwater functions. The nomination of the parcel is not related to the Beachview Golf Course nomination, which was withdrawn from consideration by the Conservation 20/20 program. The SCCF encouraged See PROPERTY, page 19
BOUTIQUE OFFICE, BIG RESULTS.
School grades recently released from the Florida Department of Education show improvement among local schools, but still left the School District of Lee County ranking ninth among the largest 10 districts in the state. A B grade was maintained for the district for t h e 2024-25 school year, which reflected continued progress and academic achievement across all schools. It was based on the third year of Florida’s new Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) assessments aligned with Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) standards. Officials said student performance and growth in English Language Arts (ELA) See GRADE, page 18
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