Freebee: First issue we noticed, the Village implemented a $2/rider fee starting in July. Typically there are 50,000 riders/year yet the 2026-2027 budget approved by council has no credit for any rides. That is $100,000 that could have impacted the millage rate approved.  Let’s keep a close watch on the fees credited each month.  Let’s improve and expand the service to further decrease taxpayers’ costs.

Task Force: Last budget year, the manager appointed a Task Force to review the budget.  They did an amazing job. Many suggestions have not been implemented but still could make a difference. Why not utilize the outstanding community members in Islamorada with financial expertise on a regular basis?  

Personnel costs: Is there a way to reduce staff cost without hurting existing employees?

• Review why personnel benefits and taxes nearly double the cost of personnel over actual salaries paid.

• Reduce more overtime

• Regularly review vacant positions that have funds allocated  

• eliminate unnecessary positions;

• identify unused funds (currently $50,000/month at Oct 1 vacancy rate)

• Are we paying for contracted services that could be better done in house?

Personnel Numbers

$24.1 million total expenditures were approved from the general fund for the year

108 employees account for 64% of all Village General Fund expenses.

• $8.5 million: Personnel salaries

• $15.4 million total cost of personnel when taxes and benefits are included

• $670K budgeted for overtime

• $601K vacant personnel positions (7) funded in the budget

$13,375,331 (55.5% of general fund budget) is for Public Safety

• $9.54 million Fire Rescue

• $3.84 million Law Enforcement

We created a chart to show how the personnel costs by department have increased from Oct 1, 2020 to Oct 1, 2026.  

During this same period, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for South Florida has gone up 26%.

What services have been added or expanded since October 2021 to make the increases so much higher than the 26% CPI?  

The National Weather Service issued Coastal Flood Warnings for the entire Florida Keys last week, as high tides were from 2 to 3 feet above normal, and saltwater flooding threatened property and impacted travel.

Prolonged strong, north-northeasterly winds off the Atlantic last week, combined with the recent full moon phase tide cycle to maintain unusually high water levels.

Multiple Florida cities recorded their highest non-tropical water levels in decades, excluding from hurricanes, from Key West to Miami to Cape Canaveral.

Spring Tides / "King" Tides: What are Spring Tides or "King" Tides and how do they affect us?

Most 'Sunny Day' flooding events in the Keys are related to Spring or "King" Tides. These are the highest of the high tides in our tidal cycle. Contrary to what the name may imply, the highest of these tides typically occur in the fall and early winter and get their name from the tide 'springing forth' rather than the season. They peak around the time of new and full moons during these months, when the Earth, sun, and moon align.