WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 17, 2025
Volume 63, number 44
City council OKs proposed budget and millage rate
By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
SUZIE THOMPSON/LADY IN PINK PHOTOGRAPHY
Annual awards return to honor ‘Best of the Islands’
The Sundial Beach Resort & Spa on Sanibel earned the most awards in the Sanibel-Captiva Islander and Island Reporter’s 2025 Best of the Islands, which ended with a Sept. 9 luncheon at the resort.
By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The best of the best businesses on Sanibel and Captiva were recently recognized in more than 100 categories with the return of an annual awards program for the first time since Hurricane Ian in 2022. On Sept. 9, the Breeze Newspapers’ Sanibel-Captiva Islander
See LECTURE SERIES, page 18
ISLANDERINSIDE
and Island Reporter honored the 2025 Best of the Islands winners during an awards luncheon at the Sundial Beach Resort & Spa on Sanibel. The community voted for their top pick in every category via ballots in the paper and online voting. This year, 115 total awards were handed out, with multiple businesses earning more than one. See BEST OF THE ISLANDS, page 23
Shell museum to present next lecture in series
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium on Sanibel is continuing with its seasonal Lecture Series for the summer and fall, which is being offered virtually via Zoom and for free. The next lecture will be: ∫ Sept. 18 at 5:30 p.m.: “What Can Oysters Tell Us About the Restoration of the Everglades?” with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Fish & Wildlife Research Institute research scientist Stephen Geiger, Ph.D. The talk will introduce the biology of
After being presented with the city’s proposed updated budget by staff, the Sanibel City Council approved the tentative millage rate and budget for fiscal year 2025-26 at its first hearing. On Sept. 8, the council voted unanimously 5-0 to adopt an operating millage rate of 2.5000 mills, which is greater than the rolled-back rate of 2.0930 mills, but equal to the current year. 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. The millage rate can be lowered during the budget process but not raised. The council also voted 5-0 to approve a tentative budget of $216,061,856 for the fiscal year. The Lee County Property Appraiser’s Office has certified the gross taxable value for operating and budgeting purposes not exempt from taxation within the city to the city as $5,634,817,483. See COUNCIL, page 10
DR. STEPHEN GEIGER
Oysters in Everglades City.
PROPERTY OF THE WEEK
Residential Customer ECRWSS
Ft MYERS, FL Permit #5733
Eric Pfeifer | 239.472.0004
ALSOINSIDETODAY Guest Commentary........................4 Web Poll...........................................4 Captiva Current...............................6 Business......................................8 Preserving Paradise.....................12 Island Living..................................14 Sports.........................................16
DR. STEPHEN GEIGER
Classifieds 39
LOGGERHEAD CAY UNIT: E583 Abundance of Natural Light, Split Floor Plan, Gulf Views
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