WEEK OF JULY 26, 2023
VOLUME 61, NUMBER 36
City council caps tax rate for next year By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
Chamber to lead city’s anniversary celebration; postpones Luminary
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n partnership with the city of Sanibel and other Sanibel organizations, the SanCap Chamber has taken the lead in planning a 13-month-long celebration of the city's 50th anniversary. In anticipation of two super Holiday Luminaries upcoming in that time frame, the chamber has postponed the 2023 Luminary.
The Sanibel City Council reviewed the city's draft budget for fiscal year 2023-24 and approved a tentative operating millage rate of 2.9598 mills — higher than the current rate — at its recent meeting. On July 18, the council voted 5-0 on a resolution to advise the Lee County property appraiser of the proposed millage rate, along with a rolled-back rate of 1.7333 mills and a proposed aggregate millage rate of 3.1527 mills. It included millages levied of 0.0624 mills for the sewer voted debt service and 0.1305 mills for the recreation center voted debt service. Exclusive of the voted debt service levies, the proposed aggregate taxes levied are approximately $11,858,195. The operating millage rate can be lowered but not raised during the budget process. Prior to council's discussion and the vote, Deputy City Manager and Finance See TAX RATE, page 17
IslanderInsIde
“I think I speak for most island businesses The SanCap Chamber when I say we all wanted desperately to bring reported that Holiday Luminary back to the islands this year, but the Luminary will return confidence and resources just aren't falling into to Sanibel and place in time,” President and Chief Executive Captiva bigger than Officer John Lai said. ever in 2024. See CHAMBER, page 17
ISLANDS, BEACHES AND NEIGHBORHOODS
City council hears of causeway, county grant and more alsOInsIdetOday
By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The Sanibel City Council heard about the Sanibel Causeway project and Lee County's Community Development Block Grant — Disaster Recovery during its recent meeting, as well as received a hurricane recovery update and more. On July 18, Florida Department of Transportation's Sanibel Causeway Community Liaison Jennifer Dorning reported that 80% of the sheet pile installation is finished. Current work activities include installing the buried island sheet See CITY COUNCIL, page 17
Editorial................................4 Web Poll.........................................4 Captiva Current..........................6-7 Business......................................8 Preserving Paradise.....................10 Island Living................................12 CITY OF SANIBEL At its July 18 meeting, the Sanibel City Council recognized the Sanibel Sports.........................................16 Police Department's Dispatch Team for being selected by the Florida Association of Public Safety Communications Officials as one of the 2023 Teams of the Year.
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