After scheduling, and abruptly cancelling, a workshop to discuss a penny sales tax for roads, Lee County commissioners will not be re-scheduling.
County commissioners lambasted the media from their dais as they cancelled the workshop on April 21. They blamed coverage they claimed was “sensationalized” for leading to what one commissioner called their “annihilation” on talk radio.
The potential for a sales tax was to help deal with the fact that county road construction plans call for $3.5 billion worth of work over the next 30 or-so years, while existing revenue sources would produce about $1.5 billion.
Spokesperson – “No funding shortfall”
County communications director Betsy Clayton says that situation doesn’t mean there’s a “funding shortfall”.
“There is no funding shortfall,” she said. “Lee County pays as it goes. That is what we’ve been doing, and that’s what we will continue to do.”
Clayton said The Tier1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 project priorities are to differentiate between projects that have some funding available, projects that are being planned and which can move up to the top tier when funding is available and other projects that are in the county long-range transportation plan.
Another transportation priorities workshop isn’t scheduled until the spring of 2027, Clayton said.
According to work by county Chief Financial Officer Pete Winton a 1% sales tax would generate more than $230 million annually. Of that just less than $90 million would go to the six cities.
In a report for the cancelled workshop, Winton laid out scenarios for collecting for 3, 5, 7 and 10-year periods. He identified existing sources as gas taxes, which he said produce about $27 million a year, surplus toll revenues at about $16 million and impact fees, which he said generate about $30 million annually.
The county’s own impact fee report shows $42 million collected during 2024-25.
Commissioners pass on sales tax – Hire lobbyist
Commissioners did agree in April to hire a federal lobbying firm to seek funding from Washington, starting with a $250 million bridge construction grant for the Cape Coral Bridge for which the county has already applied
Meanwhile the county is closing in on hiring a consultant to update the county impact fee study. One of the few revenue streams for building roads, the one-time fee paid by developers or builders is designed to offset the impact residents living in new homes have on county infrastructure.
County commissioners voted to a heavy discount of the fees back in 2008 to spur development. They have inched back up over the years, but the county still collects 52.5% of the amount the existing study supports.
The study pegs the impact of a new home on county roads at $9,996. The county collects $5,248.
Impact fee policy continues to dig hole
That means instead of around $80 million in fiscal 2024-25 the county collected $42 million. Every time a new home is built the county falls $4,748 further behind.
State law adopted after the county discounted the fees limits increases, requiring large increases to be phased in over years.
While Lee balks Charlotte moves ahead
While Lee County commissioners have passed on the sales tax for now, their Charlotte County counterparts are moving ahead. Faced with their own infrastructure funding issues commissioners there are expected to put a penny sales tax on the ballot this November.
Charlotte has collected a 1% local option sales tax for infrastructure since 1994. It has been extended repeatedly and is set to expire in December. If voters approve it in November, the tax would be extended for 20 years.
Charlotte commissioners were having a public hearing on Monday May 4.
A commission-appointed committee has in fact been meeting in Charlotte since the summer of 2025. The group has discussed various scenarios of length of extension as well as specific individual projects to be funded.
According to Charlotte 55 of Florida’s 67 counties collect a local option sales tax.
Charlie Whitehead covers Lee County and Fort Myers. Reach him at Cwhitehead@gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Lee says no to roads sales tax – Charlotte moving ahead
Reporting by Charlie Whitehead, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
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