Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Monroe County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
7 issues in taxes budget
NGM Insurance settlement — Cudjoe Key transfer station fire
The county settled its lawsuit over the fire that destroyed the Cudjoe Key transfer station for $1.8 million, recovering its replacement contractor costs and legal fees, though it gave up a hard-to-prove liquidated damages claim.
Florida Amendment 3 property tax impact
The property appraiser's analysis found Amendment 3 likely won't shrink Monroe County's overall taxable value — non-homestead properties offset homestead savings — but the fire/ambulance district in the lower and middle Keys would lose revenue. Even so, the county's ~$12.5 million in annual cost growth outpaces the projected new revenue, and a state-mandated 10% budget-cut exercise is coming.
Building permit fee restructuring
A long-overdue cost study produced a new fee schedule with some appeal fees more than tripling — a ROGO appeal would jump from $820 to $2,853, and a DOAH administrative hearing appeal to nearly $8,700. Critics say it prices ordinary residents out of their right to appeal; commissioners countered that applicants, not all taxpayers, should cover those costs.
Land Authority FY2027 budget
The county adopted its tentative $690.2 million budget and rates that will determine what you pay on your fall tax bill. Countywide rate stays flat; fire and road patrol rates rise to cover union raises. Final approval comes September 14 in Key West.
Residential solid waste rate increase
Residential solid waste rates go up $27.13 to $604.24 a year — a 4.7% CPI increase — and commercial franchise rates were also finalized. Commissioners noted residents ranked trash service as the county's best-performing service.
Human services funding restructuring
The old HSAB grant board is gone, replaced by a competitive framework for nonprofits serving people with disabilities, homelessness, domestic violence and substance abuse — with medical funding shifting to the Health Department.
Airport staffing, overtime and governance
Key West airport's passenger count has exploded 175% since 2010, and overtime followed. The board added a new security/operations manager to reduce strain, mostly kept the overtime policies as-is, and asked for a report on whether an independent airport authority might make sense as Marathon commercial service ramps up.