Cape Council to consider fees for FY ’27 budget
Presentation – Hardship Deferrals and Deferred Assessments – Final (1)
Presentation – FY27 Lot Mowing Assessment – Final (1)
Presentation – FY27 Fire Protection Assessment – Final
Presentation – FY27 Annual Assessments (1)
Res. 222-26 FY27 Solid Waste Assessment – Final
Cape Coral City Council will consider fees and assessments Wednesday.
The first is for Resolution 220-26 for Solid Waste collection rates for commercial establishments and large-scale multi-family units. The lone item on the consent agenda, the two components – collection and disposal – incorporates a 2.75% increase for the consumer price index (CPI).
The others are set as legislative hearings with public input.
Resolution 221-26, would increase the stormwater user fee from $156 to $163. The fee manages and enhances stormwater operations and maintenance capabilities; advance priority drainage, flood prevention, water quality, and canal maintenance; continue the city’s freshwater and saltwater canal dredging programs and advance major stormwater infrastructure improvements.
The proposed rate per “equivalent residential unit” has increased each year since 2022, according to the city’s stormwater fee update. In FY22, the fee was $130 per ERU increasing to $135 in FY23, $142 in FY24, $149 in FY25 and $156 in FY26. The increase year over year from FY26 to nest year would by $1,089,195.
The 2027 highlights include program funding for environmental and water quality improvements at $1.8 million; flood prevention at $500,000, drainage improvements at $1.7 million and adding one heavy equipment operator, one service worker III and a swale crew.
Capital projects include weir improvements at $3.3 million; Trafalgar drainage improvements at $7.728 million; 83 catch basin replacement at $2.625 million and Rotary Dog Park Stormwater System retrofit at $1 million.
Solid Waste
Resolution 222-26 is for the non-ad valorem assessment roll for solid waste service assessment, which has a proposed assessment calculation per dwelling unit of $384.25, the same as last year.
The 2027 highlights include a Waste Pro 2.75% CPI increase and Lee County Solid Waste Division approval of a 3.25% increase in disposal fees for MSW gate fee, horticulture, C&D and Class III.
There was a $4.80 increase for Waste Pro collection services, $6.80 increase for Lee County disposal fee and a decrease of $11.57 for Cape Coral operating and personnel costs and $.03 decrease for the Tax Collector cost. There was a zero increase or decrease for the statutory discount recovery.
Fire protection
Resolution 223-26 is for the approval of the fire protection assessment at 81% recovery of the cost of operations for the Cape Coral Fire Department. The assessment, which uses a two-tiered methodology, provides a dedicated funding source for the cost of fire protection services and facilities. The first tier is all parcels share in the cost of readiness to protect, and the second tier is for improved parcels only.
According to the presentation, the assessment for an average single-family home would be $515.43, compared to last year’s $540.17, a change of $24.74.
Key investments to be funded by the assessment include the replacement apparatus schedule, station facility maintenance, hazmat materials analyzer, and HVAC Replacement at multiple fire stations.
Lot mowing
Resolution 224-26, non-ad valorem assessment roll for lot mowing services is also among the public hearings.
The lot mowing program is of vacant parcels in four districts that are mowed 13 times a year from February through December.
The lot mowing rates to be voted on include $75.89, an increase of $5.41, in district one; $52.99, an increase of $4.94 in district two; $56.95, an increase of $5.51 in district three and $48.43, an increase of $3.80 in district four.
The annual assessment is $151.78, an increase of $10.82 in district one; $105.98, an increase of $9.88 in district two, $113.90; an increase of $11.02 in district three and $86.86, an increase of $7.60 in district four.
These fees are for an Equivalent Lot Unit of 5,000 square feet. A typical building lot in Cape Coral is two ELUs.
Deferred Assessments, Hardship Deferrals & Delinquent Loans
Resolution 225-26 is to set the rate resolutions for delinquent deferred assessments and delinquent hardship deferrals. The total delinquent deferred assessments is for $59,385.76 and the total delinquent hardship assessments is $46,658.36.
The final public hearing is for 226-26, the annual assessment roll resolution for various tax billed assessments at $44,692,570.74.
The meeting will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, in City Council chambers, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd. The meeting is open to the public.
To reach Meghan Bradbury, please email news@breezenewspapers.com