WEEk OF JuLY 17, 2024
VOLumE 62, NumBER 35
Fire board sets tentative millage rate By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The Sanibel Fire and Rescue District's commission approved the not-to-exceed millage rate and budget hearings for fiscal year 2024-25 during its meeting, along with some resolutions and district policies. On July 10, the commissioners voted 2-0 to adopt a tentative millage rate of 1.7000, which would exceed the rolled-back rate of 1.3915 mills and result in a tax increase of 22.17% to residents. Commissioner Jerry Muench abstained as he was attending remotely. The millage rate can be lowered during the upcoming budget process but not raised. The budget hearings will be held on Sept. 5 and Sept. 18 at 5:01 p.m. See FIRE BOARD, page 20
More signs installed at Blind Pass after drowning Public also provided safety tips By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
Following the recent drowning of a local teen and the rescue of two others at Blind Pass, island authorities have taken additional measures to make the area safer, plus offered
The city of Sanibel installed additional signage throughout Blind Pass in the days after the drowning of Isaac Breese, 17, of Cape Coral. First responders were able to rescue two other teens in See SIGNS, page 17 the incident. CITY OF SANIBEL
tips for beach-goers. The remains of missing swimmer Isaac Breese, 17, of Cape Coral, were recovered on July 4 by the Sanibel Police Department — two days after a call came in about three swimmers in distress. Over the two days, the
Governor’s veto means loss to local organizations By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recent veto of all arts funding for this year’s budget cycle is anticipated to have a huge impact on the Sunshine State. Alliance for the Arts Executive Director Molly Rowan-Deckart said the governor vetoed $32 million with a $17 million budgetary surplus. “We weren’t expecting it.
Gov. Ron DeSantis
IslanderInsIde
These cuts affect almost 600 art associations across the state,” she said. “According to the state’s own calculations, arts and culture provide a 9-to1 return on investment. By my calculations, the $1.8 million (local) cuts equate to an economic loss of over $16.2 million for Lee County alone. Statewide, this funding loss translates to an estimated $288 million in missed returns.” The arts culture has always
been vibrant and robust but has taken a number of heavy hits, Rowan-Deckart said. “I am deeply concerned of COVID, the hurricane, and this — we won’t survive this,” she said. “It’s not about the artist. It really is about the cultural vibrancy of Lee County. What kind of state would we be without the arts? Florida has an amazing art scene — it’s across the state. He didn’t scrape the cultural programs run by local art agencies. He cut funding across the board.” See VETO, page 20
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