Bonita Springs council weighs ballot question on rail trail tax increase

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. (WINK) — The Bonita Springs City Council is considering whether to ask voters to approve a property tax increase to fund the Bonita Estero Rail Trail project.

The question could appear on the August primary election ballot, asking homeowners whether they would be willing to pay higher property taxes to cover the $28.6 million project. The proposed rail-to-trail would transform a nearly 6-mile stretch of railroad corridor into a recreational trail.

The project has been in the works for several years. It moved a step closer to reality after the Bonita Springs City Council approved a purchase-and-sale agreement for the railway corridor, in partnership with the City of Estero and Collier County.

City Council met on April 1 for a hearing on an ordinance proposing a way to pay for the project. The ordinance would place a general obligation bond issue on the August ballot for a total of $35 million. If passed, property taxes for homeowners would be raised to cover the costs during the next 30 years.

"I live in Bonita Springs. I love it, but it's unaffordable," said Dave Jaye, chairman of the Lee County Taxpayers Association and Bonita Springs resident. "My property taxes have been zooming up, and it's really an insult to the taxpayers."

"I'm a Bonita Springs homeowner, and I'm thrilled with the opportunity for this to be on the ballot," said Deb Orton, president and co-founder of the Friends of Bonita Estero Rail Trail project, and Bonita Springs resident. "I believe that it's a popular project, and I believe that it will be voted for."

City Council is expected to have a second hearing on the ordinance on Wednesday, with the possibility of adopting it and putting it on the ballot.