Sanibel Advances Budget Talks in Workshop

by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino

The Sanibel City Council held a Budget Workshop after its regular meeting on August 18 at 5:30 p.m. Two Budget Hearings remain before the fiscal year 2027 budget is adopted: September 14 and September 28.

Council set a preliminary maximum operating millage rate of 2.5 mills, which can be decreased but cannot be increased. The millage rate provides most of the funding for general government operations. The preliminary taxable property value is $6,059,718,993, up 8.15 percent from last year.

The FY2027 operating budget is $42,088,197, less than last year’s budget ($44,727,497). There has been no change in staffing levels or authorized positions.

The proposed capital budget is $61,307,167 ($24,165,580 in funding carried forward from prior year).

Sanibel CFO Steve Chaipel stands before the City Council at the Aug. 18, 2026 budget workshop in MacKenzie Hall

Department Budgets
• City Manager’s Office, which includes the City Manager, the Public Information Officer, and the Chief Resilience Officer – budget reduced by 5.3 percent.
• City Clerk – budget reduced by 0.7 percent
• Human Resources – budget reduced by 5.8 percent
• Finance Department – budget reduced by 2.8 percent
• Planning Department – no budget reduction stated in presentation
• Information Technology – budget reduced by 2.5 percent
• Police Department – 11.1 percent increase in proposed budget, 6.9 percent increase in personnel
• Building Department – no budget reduction stated in presentation
• Public Works Department – no budget reduction stated in presentation
• Recreation Department – no budget reduction stated in presentation

Initiatives that are not currently included in the proposed FY27 budget but are recommended for future City Council discussion are prioritized as follows:
• Periwinkle Way Landscaping
• City Hall Native Garden Rehabilitation Project
• Town Center Planning
• Expansion of Recreation Center operating hours
• Coyote Population Study

The first budget hearing will be September 14 at 5:30 p.m., and the final budget hearing is September 28 at 5:30 p.m., when the final budget will be adopted.