State aid picture gets clearer for Fort Myers Beach
Town to get $8 million for beach renourishment, $5 million in loans
A $350 million fund the state legislature approved for Hurricane Ian recovery throughout the state will largely be felt in the way of interest-free loans in Lee County.
For Fort Myers Beach, the final aid figures for now are an $8 million grant for beach renourishment and a $5 million loan for several projects out of a $338 million distribution announced by Gov. Ron DeSantis on the anniversary of Hurricane Ian Sept. 28. The funds are part of a process in which municipalities requested aid through the Division of Emergency Management for various projects.
The Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District was awarded $14 million from the state. Fort Myers Beach Fire Chief Scott Wirth said $9 million of the funds will help relocate and replace Fire Station 31 off Donora Blvd., which he said was “damaged beyond repair by the devastating effects of storm surge and wind.” The remaining $5 million will be used to help the district make up for approximately $7.5 million in lost property tax revenue for the 2022-23 and 2023-25 budget years.
The town will also benefit from a nearly $7.7 million grant to Lee County that will be used for turtle-friendly lighting on Estero Blvd. The town had requested the funds though they are being directed to Lee County, which owns Estero Blvd.
Those funds are on top of a separate $11.9 million emergency bridge loan from the state earlier in the year that the town is seeking to have forgiven and a $10 million stormwater grant.
Out of the $338 million in funds announced by DeSantis Sept. 28, $51 million will be in the form of interest-free loans for the School District of Lee County and $51 million will go to the city of Cape Coral in the form of interest-free loans. Those loans are meant to help with projects that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be reimbursing. The city of Sanibel has been earmarked for $28 million – although a precise breakdown in how the aid will be sent there was not available. The Sanibel Fire and Rescue District is also getting $8 million from the state.
Town of Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers said the town applied for approximately $24 million in aid from the state. Those projects include roads, temporary trailers for Town Hall, Times Square, stormwater drainage, water towers and water lines.
Allers said he will be going up to the state capitol this month to request funding from the state legislature in its next budget session for revenue reimbursement, a new town hall and infrastructure.
The town still hasn’t received word from state officials as to whether the town’s $11.9 million bridge loan from the state will be forgiven. State Sen. Jonathan Martin (R-33), who represents Fort Myers Beach, said there are talks ongoing about forgiving the loan or the interest. The interest balloons to 10% after a year.
