The Chamber’s luncheon is back
Lee County Tax Collector, Noelle Branning, speaks to area business leaders
The North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce brought back its luncheon at Gulf Coast Village in Cape Coral on Wednesday, and it couldn’t have come at a better time as the Lee County Tax Collector, Noelle Branning, came to speak to area business leaders.
This year’s tax season will be one of the strangest in years, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Branning stopped by to talk about the changes that will take effect this year.
“At the tax collector’s office, it doesn’t seem like there’s a lot we can do, but there are some things we can do,” Branning said. “The first thing we asked is how can we work with the property appraiser Matt Caldwell to support our residents and business people.”
If your house was completely destroyed or rendered uninhabitable, you will get an extension on the tax deadline and the discount period under an executive order by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
If you believe you are eligible, contact the Property Appraiser’s office at leepa.org or call 533-6100.
If you do not qualify, Branning has extended the 4 percent discount period to Dec. 31 rather than the usual Nov. 30, with property taxes payable any time between now and March 31, 2023.
If your home, business, storage area or business assets were damaged in the hurricane, contact the property appraiser to report the damage by Jan. 1, 2023, when the assessment period begins.
Caldwell was also scheduled to speak, but was unable to attend.
Also speaking was Tauheedah Mateen, public affairs specialist with the Small Business Administration (SBA), who talked about what they do and how local small businesses can get back on their feet with loans from the SBA.
The SBA also works with homeowners and renters with low-interest loans for those who qualify. Homeowners can borrow up to $200,000 for their homes and another $40,000 on personal property.
Businesses can apply for up to $2 million in loans to cover their building, equipment and other personal property. The deadline to apply is Nov. 28.
The SBA can also give you 20 percent toward mitigation, which could be raising the elevation on your home, installing storm shutters, etc.
In other business:
The Chamber announced it would officially bring back its Honorary Mayor of North Fort Myers campaign fundraiser which has been in moth balls since 2014.
Doug Dailey, who won the last North Fort Myers mayor ‘election’ and has been mayor ever since, made the announcement that the Chamber would be seeking candidates to raise money for the organization.
The election is won by the candidate who raises the most money. The swearing-in ceremony will take place sometime early in the new year. The honorary mayor will serve as a figurehead for the Chamber, attending such events as ribbon-cuttings.
Two candidates have already signed up to ‘campaign’, Dailey said.
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com