Village Council election on Nov 3, 2026

Seat 1: Anna Richards versus Joe Wischmeier

Seat 2: Steve Friedman versus Deb Gillis (Gillis switched Seats August 11)

Seat 3: Corie McGraw-Abel versus Sue Miller

Seat 4: Don Horton versus Tom Raffanello

Seat 5: Sharon Mahoney, elected, unopposed

Read the Property Tax Referendum that will be on the Nov Ballot. Click Here

Tom is also a parent and an Islamorada resident and taxpayer.

The ICA - Islamorada Community Alliance: What is it about the ICA?

The Islamorada Community Alliance ( ICA) was formed a half dozen years ago.  Our mission statement has remained the same since day one.

“To provide the Islamorada residents with information about events occurring in our community that will impact our quality of life, preservation of our native ecosystems, land development, lawful and transparent governance.”

We think we are fulfilling our mission.  Over the last few years those opposed to our efforts have tried to portray the ICA as some type of destructive force, all based on a dislike of our policy criticisms, and/or current or prior ICA members.

This premise should be dismissed as childish and counterproductive. That is not the behavior of experienced managers.

Perhaps those critical of the ICA efforts should consult our thousands of readers who encourage us to do what they cannot.

Many folks in Islamorada will not publicly question existing power for fear of retribution. That is the real shame.

Reason given: We live in a small town and depend on local groups and government for our livelihood, permits and property rights.

The comment “Oh, they’re ICA” is used as a derogatory term, used to describe residents who openly share our goals for the future of our community, as well as some of our criticisms of our community leaders, such as they are.

“Oh they’re ICA. They do nothing but complain and never have solutions” is a standard excuse used by members of the council, the Village Manager, and others to reject and demean ideas they’d rather not acknowledge or pursue.

 

The Islamorada Community Alliance does not maintain a membership file.  We do have an extensive list of “subscribers” who receive our regular weekly newsletter.

Many of the people who are the most critical of the ICA are among the subscribers.

For the record, many of our suggestions have been adopted by village management.

We don’t point them out in the newsletter or publicly.

Our mission is not to accept credit but to improve our village. We smile and move on.

 

We acknowledge that we share loads of concerns, (complaints?), via public comment and in our newsletters.

We often give solutions that elected officials and village management just don’t want to hear. 

We will continue to publish and voice valid complaints.

We complain about exorbitant tax increases:  Solution – Say “No” to the proposed 10% increase this year.  Cut excessive spending.

Call in Florida DOGE to assist in an effective audit never conducted in our 27 year history, over a quarter of a century.

Think it’s time?  In the real world, municipalities need to be considering and implementing audits of personnel and services.

We are disappointed to see Public budget workshops held in the middle of the work day. Result: minimal public participation. Solution: Hold workshops after 5 PM.

 

We criticize the council for frequently waiving competitive bidding. The solution: Explain why it is necessary or don’t do it.  Competition is the law – intended to provide better costs and services.

 

Transparency instead of decisions via phone calls or “thumbs up or down” to avoid public comment.  Solution: Transparency is the law – the Sunshine Law.

We criticize lack of opportunities for public participation. Solution: more public workshops, more appropriate use of public comment during meetings. More effective use of citizen committees.

Unused Village-owned properties. We have owned some of these lemons for years with no plan. Solution: Make and execute a plan – the public can help – just ask us.

 

Long meeting agendas. The public should have more than a few days to digest 500-1000 page Village meeting agendas.  Solution: upload agendas sooner.  Give the public (and council) more time, every time.

Yes we have complaints, but they are based on ideas for improving our local government.

Many solutions often envoke use of common sense and a feel for our residents’ needs.

It is apparent that some in the village prefer to demonize what they cannot control. It is an old concept which always fails.

Our newsletter subscribers are at an all time high.

Make an effort to be the “consensus builders” you claim to be.

We are always available for consultation.

Incorporating diverse ideas into Village decision-making is essential for creating policies that are effective, equitable, and representative of the population of our community. 

Our residents matter. They deserve a louder voice. Listen to the ideas… and the complaints.

Tom

Send an email to the Village Clerk and ask her to distribute to all members of the Council, Village Manager, and/or specific members of the team at the Village …..clerk@islamorada.fl.us

The Council directed staff to prepare a proposed budget for the Thursday public hearing at just slightly less than a 10% increase in property taxes over last year’s taxes.  Approval of any budget that would increase the taxes over the previous years tax revenue will require a vote of at least 4 of the 5 members of council.

Our first thought - here it is, a critical budget hearing on Thursday - and it is proceeded by a holiday weekend and no proposed budget for the public to review yet - I guess until Tuesday?  And there is also an important 515-page agenda for Tuesday’s Council meeting to study.  We need more time! But no breaks for the weary.

At budget time, the most significant part of the annual costs to taxpayers is personnel costs at a projected cost near $14 million for the coming year.

The Council must consider an appropriate level of salary plus benefits in order to retain a quality staff while working to keep the taxes low for property owners struggling to pay for the high cost of living. A majority of employees cannot afford to live in Islamorada. Many come from the mainland because of the extremely high cost of living in the Keys. This week, the Council will consider a budget that includes 113 Village employees at a cost of almost $14 million… an average cost of almost $124,000 per employee. That is the average cost of an employee - not the amount on the paycheck the employee takes home to cover food, housing, vehicle, etc.  A significant taxpayer cost for Islamorada employees is their medical insurance for both employees and their family and retirement funding with the Florida Retirement Services (FRS).   All employees pay 3% of their salary into FRS. Taxpayers contribute 13.59% of salaries for most employees to FRS.  Firefighters (we have 43 firefighters) get 37.74%. The Village Manager gets 32.60%. Cost of benefits can be significant. For a $200,000 salary for Village Manager - add $65,200 for retirement funding, $48,000 for housing allowance.  And an extensive insurance plan too.   Click here to see the FRS rates paid by Village taxpayers for employees in 2026-2027.

Islamorada Post Office to Close: word spread quickly through town that the Islamorada Post Office at MM82.8 will be closing. The 4080 sq ft building on nearly 2/3 of an acre is owned by a trust with a Miami Beach address.

The United States Postal Service is having financial issues all over the country.

Losses over the past 10 years have weakened the Postal Service’s financial position, resulting in a significant gap between assets and liabilities. At the end of FY 2025, the Postal Service recorded total assets of $41.7 billion and total liabilities of $83.3 billion.

Facebook msg from CROOKED PALM CABANA:  “After 2½ incredible years, we have made the difficult decision to close the doors of Crooked Palm Cabana. Our final day of operation will be Oct 4th.”

Back in Dec 2022, the Village Council voted 3-2 to approve a controversial major conditional use to redevelop a prior bank property at MM90, as a brewpub-restaurant-distillery with outdoor seating.  Seven existing affordable housing units could continue on the second floor.  The Council approved the project with 19 conditions, including parking, landscaping, and buffer reductions, limited hours of operation, and occupancy limits… after months of meetings and negotiations. In Dec 2025, six of the conditions were eliminated as the business had been deemed a good neighbor.

Historical Preservation Society of the Upper Keys: On Monday, Sept. 14 at 7:00 p.m. at the Coral Isles Church mm 90 on Plantation Key.  The presentation: "HURRICANE DONNA REVISITED" the 1960 storm.

Did you take the Survey? Florida Keys Electric Cooperative (FKEC) is researching a new rate  concept. Instead of using a flat rate for the amount of electricity used, the cooperative is investigating ways to align billing with time-of-use (TOU) rates.

Time-of-Use rates are a utility billing concept that charges different prices for electricity depending on the time of day you use it, with lower rates during off-peak hours.

If you have an account with FKEC: Take the Survey.