City Manager Presents at Sunrise Rotary

Rotary Club of Marco Island Sunrise recently hosted a presentation by Marco Island City Manager Casey Lucius, Ph.D., as part of its Wake Up to Rotary Speaker series. Dr. Lucius reported on recent City activity, particularly budget challenges.

Dr. Lucius explained that the City’s portion of property tax bills runs for about 13% for residences. Approximately 50% of the property tax bill is for schools, with about 30% going to Collier County’s General Fund. That means Marco Island property tax bills are determined largely by entities over which the City has no control.

City Council had been adopting a “roll back” budget for years. That means the tax rate was set to raise the same amount of money as the previous year. Costs have increased, and this year the Council upped the tax rate to raise an additional $480,000 in tax revenue. That means a typical homeowner on Marco Island will pay an additional $40-$50 in taxes.

Lucius emphasized that of 393 cities in Florida, only 16 have a lower tax rate than Marco Island. And Marco Island's millage rate of 1.267 compares quite favorably to the average City millage rate in Florida of 4.828.

As for what the City does collect, the largest portion of the budget is for public safety (fire and police) followed by public works (roads and infrastructure), fleet and facilities (taking care of City property) and parks and rec.

The City was spending $1.5 million a year on road resurfacing while collecting part of a temporary one-cent sales tax increase, but with the loss of that income, recent budgets only have $500,000 a year for paving. Since it costs $200,000 per lane mile for paving, only the neediest roads get attention.

Canal water quality is an increasing priority for the City. The City has been implementing improvements recommended by a science consultant six years ago and most recently adopted an advanced wastewater treatment plan. A pilot canal aeration study project is currently being conducted in Hollyhock Waterway.

Bridges are an increasing concern. Marco Island bridges were built with a 50-year life expectancy and the 50 years are up. The City Manager is hoping for referendum approval of a $23 million bond from which funds will be available to qualify for a state grant to replace the Caxambas and Goldenrod bridges and repair the Bahama, Sandhill and South Seas bridges.

Rotary Club of Marco Island Sunrise meets on Tuesdays, 7:15 AM at Stonewalls Restaurant, 551 S. Collier Blvd., Marco Island, Florida.