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Islamorada

Community alliance

Advocacy For Residents, Education and Preservation




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  • 23 Jul 2025 11:48 AM | Anonymous

    Last week the Monroe County Commission approved a request by Islamorada’s  Friends of the Pool Inc. to extend three previously awarded Tourist Development Council grants for their lighthouse restoration project.  The grant was extended until Sept. 30, 2026.


    The group’s engineering team recently finalized drawings for the permitting phase of the project estimated to cost $6 million to “restore it historically” with some upgrades.


  • 23 Jul 2025 11:46 AM | Anonymous

    The local “Synchro Sirens,” synchronized swimming team, placed 10th in the NATION at U.S Junior Olympics this year after finishing in first place at the State Regional Championships in Gainesville back in May. Congratulations to Coach Isla and the team! What a great honor.

  • 23 Jul 2025 11:43 AM | Anonymous

    According to Insurify.com, property insurance premiums have risen dramatically across the country in recent years, due to inflation, record-high home market values, increased cost of building.  But perhaps there is a more significant issue for the Florida Keys. Throughout Florida, dramatic  increases in average premiums are largely due to natural disasters!


    Here are the 5 most expensive states for home insurance premiums and how much homeowners pay per month for $300,000 in dwelling coverage:

    • Florida: $916/mo

    • Louisiana: $530/mo

    • Oklahoma: $454/mo

    • Texas: $371/mo

    • Mississippi: $359/mo

    Note that 4 of the 5 are on the Gulf Coast.  Oklahoma - tornado alley.  


    Now think about workforce housing.  To cover the cost of property insurance, property taxes, and debt payments, how is workforce housing even possible without subsidies? An Islamorada home with $300,000 of taxable value would be charged $2,661/year in taxes based on current year’s millage.  

    Fair Insurance Rates for Monroe (FIRM) For more than 18 years, FIRM, a Florida Keys grassroots nonprofit, has saved Monroe County property owners more than $900 million. They have helped us tremendously.  Let’s support them. Click here.


  • 23 Jul 2025 11:40 AM | Anonymous

    Monroe County’s Freebee transportation service between Stock Island and Key West began as a pilot project to provide an alternative mode of transportation to encourage ride sharing. The County charged $2/ride to reduce taxpayer cost. With the recent cost cutting in the County, the service is being discontinued.  Click here for story.

    At the June 12 Village Council meeting, the Council voted to retain Freebee service in Islamorada at taxpayer’s expense until June 30, 2026, when the Village planned to have Monroe County take over the operation and cost of the service, saving Islamorada taxpayers $276,700 after receiving an FDOT grant for 50% of the cost.


  • 23 Jul 2025 11:36 AM | Anonymous

    Founders Park was purchased by Village taxpayers over 25 years ago. It serves as the centerpiece of Islamorada.  The Coral Shores High School baseball team plays at the park.  Plans are underway to make significant improvements.  The Village is doing a survey to better understand what the taxpayers of Islamorada want. Please complete the survey, click here.

    At the last Parks and Rec committee meeting, the committee voted to recommend approval of the preliminary plans. Do you agree?


    The School District will pay for the upgrades. The Village taxpayers will pay to operate and maintain the upgrades when the field is not in use by the school.


  • 23 Jul 2025 11:34 AM | Anonymous

    Taxable Value of Village properties:

    • 2024-2025 - $6,485,345,287
    • 2025-2026 - $7,045,812,143
    • Increase of $560,466,856, an 8.6% increase


    The property taxes collected per resident, 2024-2025:

    • Islamorada (7,107 residents) - $2,301/resident
    • Marathon (9,689 residents) - $1,070/resident
    •        Key West (26,444 residents) -$817/resident


    Total increase in all expenditures in Village budgets:

    • $35.8 million in 2020-2021 budget
    • $60.7 million in 2024-2025 budget
    • An increase of 70%  


    Total property tax has gone up

    • $11,544,900 in 2020-2021
    • $16,738,600 in 2024-2025
    • $21,316,210 in 2025-2026 if 3 mills is adopted
    • An increase of 27.35% in a single year


  • 22 Jul 2025 2:40 PM | Anonymous

    In a continuing effort to inform and educate the residents of current events, mandates and issues that affect the lives of residents and our unique environment, I submit the following:

    Some of the many reasons why the Village of Islamorada needs to be part of the Florida Department of Government Efficiency program:


    Islamorada Financial Task Force Meeting: Last Thursday a task force, appointed by Village Manager Ron Saunders presented their findings. The group was formed to study our Village financial documents and make recommendations regarding our expenditures and budget process. 


    All five members of the committee did a thorough and commendable job finding areas in the Village budget process that they questioned and voiced significant concerns.

    The Task Force also provided important recommendations.


    The committee: Dr. Larry Dalton, Joe Jiovenetta, Elizabeth Jolin, Joseph Roth, Stephanie Scuderi


    Some of their primary concerns:

    1. Number of full-time employees (Editor’s note: if some of these positions are contracted out we avoid costly benefits entitlements)

    2. High cost of employee benefits (described by member Dalton as “gold plated Rolls Royce” type benefits)

    3. The need for a grant writer

    4. Performance-based raises instead of across the board raises.

    5. High cost of legal services.

    6. Improving the compilation and vetting of the budget


    A majority of the committee seemed emphatic in their call for REDUCED SPENDING and increasing the DISASTER RECOVERY RESERVES, fearing the possibility of reduced FEMA assistance after a storm.


    We thank the Task Force for a job well done!


    Monroe County Budget Meetingshould serve as a model on how this

    important fiscal process should be conducted: On July 15, Monroe County met in a 4-hour special call budget meeting to adopt their “maximum” millage rate for August TRIM notices to be mailed by August 24 by the Monroe County Property Appraiser to all property owners.


    Before setting the millage rate, the county discussed in detail the draft budget for the coming year. They approved a very modest increase over the current year’s adopted millage, largely to begin increasing disaster recovery reserves from the County’s current $10 million, up to an eventual $40 million, because of concern that state and federal disaster assistance may be reduced.


    Congratulations County and County Administrator, Christine Hurley and staff. We hope Islamorada follows your example. Professionally done.


    Islamorada Council Scheduled Millage Approval: Tuesday July 22, during a regular monthly Village Council meeting with numerous reports and TWENTY OTHER AGENDA ITEMS! 


    The critical vote to approve the millage rate to be used for TRIM notices is buried in a long 21-tab agenda as TAB 8. No draft budget proposal is available to justify the staff recommended millage rate of 3 mills, over 13% higher than current year. 


    Yes, the rate can be decreased during September public hearings – but why even suggest the possibility of a significant tax rate increase?


    Answer: to eventually come in at a lesser figure and give the illusion that you saved us money?


    With a huge increase in the taxable value in Islamorada property taxes and this millage rate, if adopted, the total property taxes in the Village would increase by 27.35% over the taxes for the current year.


    Is the Village paying attention? The Village Financial Task Force members spoke about the need to REDUCE spending significantly. Even a 10% cut in the millage rate was suggested by Dr. Dalton, not a 13% increase.


    The county commission approved a draft budget with significant operational reductions.


    We support these types of budget decisions. Not a signal of a potential huge tax increase to taxpayers in the TRIM NOTICE.


    Now is the time for Village Council to pay attention to the voices of their constituents.


    Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE): The state has sent requests for financial data to the Village from Florida DOGE aimed at reducing wasteful spending and improving government accountability. FL DOGE is examining local governments to identify inefficiencies. The County is paying attention and implementing cost reductions.


    The Village is duty bound to request DOGE to assist our community.


    Just look at our consistent tax increases and lack of budget line item scrutiny.


    The Islamorada Community Alliance got an email this week: “It only takes three people to decide how OUR money is spent. Village residents need more say. I think anything over one million dollars should be voted on by the residents of the village.”


    We suggest other possible solutions:  

    • Annual millage rate and budget approval by council: a unanimous vote of council.

    • Expenditures during the year exceeding $100,000: 4/5 vote of council.

    • Expenditures over $500,000: a unanimous vote of council.


    Will the Council agree to limits? If not, why not? It is common sense.


    Stand up, residents, it’s OUR MONEY!


    Elections have consequences and this is just another one.


    As always,

    Tom Raffanello


    Reply to: ICA.in.Keys@gmail.com


Your Chance to Speak Up!  


Tuesday July 29, 2025 at 5:15 PM

Nearshore Water Regulation Citizens' Advisory Committee Meeting

Where: Islamorada Administrative Center, 86800 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, Florida


We are redoing our Islamorada.org website.  Check back soon to see how we are doing.  If you have suggestions about what you'd like to see and information that is important to you, please let us know.

Our vision

To enhance the community of Islamorada by preserving the quality of life of the residents as well as the beauty and vitality of the native ecosystems and to stop any further degradation of our community from over-development.

Mission statement

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.


CONTACT US

ica.in.keys@gmail.com
Islamorada Community Alliance

P.O. Box 1507

Tavernier, FL  33070-1507


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ica.in.keys@gmail.com


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The Village Weekly Update


 

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Our vision

To enhance the community of Islamorada by preserving the quality of life of the residents as well as the beauty and vitality of the native ecosystems and to stop any further degradation of our community from over-development.

Mission statement

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.

DONATE TO THE ICA

Your tax deductible donations allows the ICA to keep you informed about important events that will impact and help protect our quality of life, our neighborhoods, property values and native ecosystems. Your donations make this possible and are most appreciated.

Contact Us

ica.in.keys@gmail.com

Islamorada Community Alliance

P.O. Box 1507

Tavernier, FL  33070-1507




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