WEEK OF JULY 23, 2025
Volume 63, number 36
City council caps tax rate for next year
By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
After being presented with the city’s draft budget by staff, the Sanibel City Council approved the not-to-exceed millage rate and first budget hearing for fiscal year 2025-26 during its recent meeting. On July 15, the council voted unanimously 5-0 on a resolution to advise the Lee County Property Appraiser of a proposed operating millage rate of 2.5000 mills — the same as the current fiscal year — as well as a rolled-back rate of 2.0930 mills and a proposed aggregate millage rate of 2.6151 mills. It included a millage levy for the sewer voted debt service of 0.0140 mills and a millage levy for the recreation center voted debt service of 0.1011 mills. Proposed aggregate taxes levied are $14,087,044. The millage rate can be lowered during the upcoming budget process but not raised. Prior to the council’s discussion and vote, Deputy City Manager and Finance BAILEY-MATTHEWS NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM & AQUARIUM
Thrush cowrie
Shell museum to kick off series with first lecture
STAFF REPORT
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium on Sanibel is set to kick off its seasonal Lecture Series for the summer and fall, which will be offered virtually via Zoom and for free. The first lecture will be:
ISLANDERINSIDE
∫ July 24 at 5:30 p.m.: “Recent Research and Revelations at the Shell Museum & Aquarium” with curator and Science Director Dr. José H. Leal and Associate Director of Education Jorden Falker As the only museum and aquarium devoted primarily to shells and mollusks, the museum is in a unique position See SHELL MUSEUM, page 17
San-Cap fire districts take part in training
By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The islands’ fire districts recently had the opportunity to train together in real-life conditions. On July 7-9, the Sanibel Fire and Rescue District and Captiva Island Fire Control District conducted training at a single-story residential home in the Chateaux Sur Mer community, located off of Rue Bayou, on Sanibel. Damaged during Hurricane Ian in 2022, the house was scheduled for demolition.
See CITY COUNCIL, page 17
SANIBEL FIRE AND RESCUE DISTRICT/CAPTIVA ISLAND FIRE CONTROL DISTRICT
ALSOINSIDETODAY
Sanibel Deputy Fire Chief John DiMaria, who prepared the structure for the training with Captiva Lt. Shawn Kilgore, reported that the district was approached by Dan Budd, of Wildseed Construction. “Sometimes we get these structures from the homeowners. However, we also get them from different construction companies or contractors,” he said, adding that the house was offered up for training. “Which we graciously accepted,”
Guest Commentary........................4 Web Poll...........................................4 Captiva Current...............................6 Business......................................8 Preserving Paradise.....................12 Island Living..................................14 Sports.........................................16
See TRAINING, page 18
Classifieds 35
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