Property tax proposal threatens Fort Myers police building project

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)—A multi-million dollar Fort Myers Police Department headquarters project could be postponed or canceled if a property tax proposal moves forward during an upcoming special legislative session.

Florida lawmakers are days away from entering a special session to discuss the property tax proposal. City leaders across Southwest Florida are bracing for what it could mean for current projects.

"If the property taxes go away, we may have to postpone that project, or possibly squash it," said Mayor Kevin Anderson of Fort Myers.

Fort Myers City Manager Marty Lawing shared the same sentiment at the start of the year during a city council meeting. "We'll have to take a serious look as to if we can do this project at all," Lawing said.

The new police department headquarters had been in the works for over a decade. Mayor Anderson said Thursday there's a chance the project could still sit in limbo because of the special session.

"First of all, it has to get on the ballot, and then the public has to approve it," Anderson said.

WINK News spoke with the mayor about what the proposal could mean for the project. The mayor said they need a new building because they've outgrown the current one.

"They're operating out of several different buildings, it's not efficient," Anderson said.

The mayor also said the department is already operating on a tighter budget. "We're already short at least $14 million for public safety," Anderson said.

If the project makes the ballot and is passed by voters, Mayor Anderson said the city will need to create funds in other ways. "It might mean increase in the fire assessment fee, it might mean implementing a police assessment fee, increase in the water rates, increase in the garbage rates, lot of options out there," Anderson said.

The mayor also added that Lee County could decide to raise sales taxes should property taxes go away. The city said the new police headquarters is still a go for now.