WEEK OF OCTOBER 1, 2025
Volume 63, number 46
City council OKs final budget and millage rate
By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
SANIBEL ISLAND FARMERS MARKET
The Sanibel Island Farmers Market will run from October through May on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sanibel City Hall on Sanibel.
After being presented with the city’s proposed updated budget, the Sanibel City Council approved the final millage rate and budget for fiscal year 2025-26 at its second and final budget hearing. On Sept. 25, the council voted unanimously 5-0 to adopt an operating millage rate of 2.5000 mills, which exceeds the rolled-back rate of 2.0930 mills by 19.45%. It included a millage levy for the sewer voted debt service of 0.0169 mills and a millage levy for the recreation center voted debt service of 0.1011 mills. The council also voted 5-0 to approve a final budget of $216,061,856 for the fiscal year. Additionally, it voted 5-0 to establish the following committed amounts from the General Fund’s fund balance: $5.9 million for emergency reserve, $600,000 for operational support reserve and $737,500 for debt service reserve. The Lee County Property Appraiser’s Office has certified the gross taxable value See COUNCIL, page 19
ISLANDERINSIDE
Sanibel market to mark 18th season By TIFFANY REPECKI
T
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
he Sanibel Island Farmers Market is returning to the island with its first event set for Oct. 5. Celebrating its 18th season, the market will be held on
Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sanibel City Hall from October through May. Organized by Local Roots, which is co-owned by island residents Jean Baer and Betsy Ventura, the See MARKET, page 18
District and teachers union reach tentative accord
By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
The School District of Lee County and the Teachers Union of Lee County have reached a tentative contract. The agreement includes salary increases, unprecedented parental leave, changes to the bereavement leave, terminal pay language and 45 additional work minutes per week and a 30-minute lunch, officials said. TALC President Kevin Daly said the increases were based on performance pay of $300 for highly effective and $225
for effective grandfathered, an increased base salary for nine more minutes of work per day — an approximate 2% increase and compression adjustment based on years of credible teaching experience. The increase starts at three to five years at 3%, six to 14 years at 5%, 15 to 20 years at 4.5% and 21 or more years at 3%.
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A base salary was also established at $54,500 and the base salary for special instructional at $62,500. Daly said other benefits added to the contract include a 45-minute cap on mandatory meetings called by administration, and coverage language for special instructional teachers — one day pay for every five days See ACCORD, page 19
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