Final public hearing on assessments set for Wednesday
Increases proposed for various services
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The city of Cape Coral will hold its final public hearing Wednesday for the various assessments that will appear on property tax bills.
The introductory resolutions were approved by Cape Coral City Council on July 23, and notices were sent out in the first week of August.
The first public hearing is to approve the fiscal year 2025-2026 non-ad valorem assessment roll for assessments imposed to fund the lot mowing services and assessment rates.
The program calls for mows 13 times a year for vacant parcels in four districts from February through December. The program also includes pepper tree removal and owl nest trimming.
The proposed annual rate for district one is $70.48, a reduction of $15.94 due to a previous increase to finish Hurricane Ian cleanup; a $3.28 increase to $48.05 for district two; a $4.12 increase to $51.44 for district three; and a $1.42 increase in district four to $44.63.
A standard parcel is two lots.
The annual assessment for district 1 would be $140.96, a reduction of $31.88; an increase of $6.56 for district two to $96.10; a $8.24 increase for district three to $102.88; and $89.26 for district four, a $2.84 increase.
The final hearing for the non-ad valorem assessment roll for solid waste service assessments will also be voted on Wednesday.
The proposed fiscal year 2026 annual residential rate is an increase of $38.49 from $345.76 to $384.25.
The city also imposes a levy for fire protection services. It determines the amount by setting a “recovery rate” at a percentage of the cost of operations. It also sets a “tier” rate based on the cost of “readiness to serve.”
The non-ad valorem assessment roll for fire protection services for has a proposed 81% recovery rate, an increase from 70% recovery last year. The tier one rate, all parcels, including vacant share the cost of readiness to protect, per parcel is $349.32, a $70.48 change, or 25.28%. Tier two, improved parcels only and based on structure value, rate per equivalent benefit units, is $3.47, a 40-cent increase, or 13.03%.
The stormwater proposed rate is $156, an increase from $149, which will increase current lines of service for operations and maintenance, officials said.
Council will also vote on the annual assessment rolls for various non-ad valorem (tax billed) assessments ranging from southeast one potable water, wastewater, and irrigation to the utility contribution in aid of construction fee water and wastewater. The total revenue is $37,703,217.10.
The non-ad valorem assessment roll for assessments imposed to collect certain delinquent water, wastewater, irrigation, fire service non-ad valorem special assessments and capital expansion and contributions in aid of construction loans is also on the agenda.
The delinquent deferred assessments are for seven properties, of which total 15 deferred assessment accounts for a total of $354,203.34.
There are 18 properties for delinquent hardship assessments totaling $116,408.44.
There is one property for the delinquent loan - Contribution in Aid of Construction totaling $7,751.67.
The last resolution for the public hearing is for non-ad valorem assessment roll to collect certain previously exempted North 1 West Irrigation non-ad valorem special assessments. There were 22 properties incorrectly coded and improperly exempted from paying the North 1 West Irrigation Assessment.
The Wednesday meeting will be held at 4 p.m. Aug. 27, in Council Chambers, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd. The meeting is open to the public.