10/6/26 BoCC Workshop

Lee County, Florida Board of County Commissioners workshop — October 6, 2026: The board reviewed the county’s tax-base outlook and modeled potential revenue replacement if a proposed property-tax amendment passes. The property appraiser described mixed, relatively stable property-value trends and discussed how exemptions could shift the tax burden to non-homesteaded properties. Estimates discussed included roughly $109 million in potential revenue loss for one scenario and $144–145 million for another, with commissioners noting uncertainty in projections and the importance of planning for year two. A full millage-rate rollup was shown as one possible way to replace lost revenue, but commissioners raised concerns about the tax impact and the accuracy of underlying assumptions, including subsidies to funds and services outside the general fund.

Staff demonstrated illustrative fee increases for services such as ambulance transport, boat ramps, parking, parks, development review, animal services, and transit. The modeled increases generated about $15 million in additional revenue in the general fund and about $700,000 in the unincorporated MSTU, illustrating that fees alone would not cover the projected shortfall. Commissioners also discussed cost reductions, service impacts, and whether enterprise and other funds should cover their full costs. No votes or spending/procurement decisions were taken; staff said they would refine the modeling and return with further analysis if the amendment passes. No procurement activity was identified.