The referendum asks voters whether the Captiva Island Fire Control District may issue up to a maximum of $24 million in bonds to support future fire and emergency-services infrastructure needs. 

It is important for voters to understand the following: 

• The $24 million amount is a maximum authorization, not a guaranteed or automatic expenditure. The District may issue less than the full amount, depending on final project scope, costs, and financing conditions. 

• Only the amount actually borrowed would be repaid through taxes. Any portion of the authorized amount that is not used would not be issued as debt and therefore would not result in taxation. 

• Approval of the referendum does not obligate the District to spend the full amount, nor does it require immediate issuance of bonds. 

The referendum is being placed on the ballot now because of long-term planning considerations, limited availability of suitable property on Captiva Island, and the need to evaluate options for resilient emergency-services infrastructure. Florida law requires voter approval before an independent special district may issue long-term general-obligation debt, and this measure provides that opportunity. 

No. The referendum does not authorize the purchase of a specific parcel, property, or from a specific owner. 

Instead, it authorizes the District to have the financial capacity—if voters approve—to pursue property acquisition and related capital improvements in the future.

If voters approve the referendum but the District ultimately issues bonds for less than the maximum authorized amount: 

• Only the issued bond amount would be repaid 

• Taxes would be levied only to cover actual debt service 

• Unused authorization would simply remain unused and would not affect taxpayers 

There is no mechanism for taxing residents for funds that are not borrowed.

Voter authorization is required before the District can issue long-term bonds. Seeking authorization in advance allows the District to: 

• Respond if a suitable opportunity becomes available 

• Avoid delays that could result in missed opportunities 

• Maintain transparency by placing the decision directly in the hands of voters 

Approval of the referendum provides authorization, not a mandate to spend. 

If approved by voters, bond funds would be used to acquire property suitable for: 

• A resilient fire station 

• Emergency Medical Helicopter landing zone 

• Emergency medical response facilities 

• Hurricane response and disaster-recovery staging 

• Training facility and operational support 

• Fireboat docking and marine response infrastructure 

This reflects infrastructure needs identified by the District through planning and public discussion. 

The proposed authorization is up to $24,000,000. 
The final cost to taxpayers depends on: 

• Future interest rates 

• Market conditions at the time of issuance 

• The repayment term selected 

• The amount of the bonds actually issued (up to the maximum authorized) 

Estimated annual tax impacts will be published once financial modeling is completed. 

Only registered voters who live within the Captiva Island Fire Control District may vote on this referendum.  

No. 
If the referendum does not pass, the District is not authorized to issue bonds for this project and cannot proceed with long-term debt funding.

General-obligation (GO) bonds are a type of municipal bond repaid through property taxes. They must be approved by voters and may only be used for the public purposes defined in the ballot language. 

• November 11, 2025 – Board adopted resolution placing bond referendum on the ballot 

• February 10, 2026 – Voter referendum 

• If approved: 

• Bond financing process begins 

• Property acquisition could occur once financing is secured 

• If not approved: 

• The District cannot issue the proposed debt 

The District will provide factual information through: 

• Public meetings 

• Official website updates 

• Community information through Q&A at public meetings 

The District will not advocate a position, encourage votes, or use public funds for persuasion. 

Referendum to Authorize Fire District to Issue General Obligation Bonds for Fire Public Safety Projects  

To better protect the residents and visitors of Captiva Island, shall the Captiva Island Fire Control District issue not exceeding $24,000,000 general obligation bonds, in one or more series, maturing in thirty years or less, bearing interest not exceeding the maximum legal rate, secured by and payable from the full faith, credit and ad valorem taxing power of the District, for the acquisition and improvement of property needed for fire public safety projects? 

        Yes- For Bonds 

        No- Against Bonds 

All documents—including resolutions, financial analyses, meeting minutes, and legal notices—will be publicly available on the District’s website or through a public records request via our website or by calling administration directly at (239) 472-9494. 
Public participation is welcome at all regularly scheduled board meetings. 

All voter registration and election information is provided by the Lee County Supervisor of Elections. This includes: 

• Voter registration status 

• Early voting dates and locations 

• Vote-by-mail (absentee) ballot requests 

• Election Day polling locations 

Residents can find the most current and accurate information directly on the Supervisor of Elections website  https://www.lee.vote/ or by contacting their office. Their office has also mailed a notice of election to all district voters, notifying them of the February 10, 2026, bond referendum special election.  

The Captiva Island Fire Control District is the sole provider of fire and emergency services on Captiva Island. Services include: 

• Fire suppression and fire prevention 

• Advanced Life Support emergency medical response and rescue services 

• Hazard mitigation and emergency preparedness 

• Marine and water-based emergency response 

• Disaster response and recovery support during hurricanes and other major events 

These services are provided 24 hours a day, year-round, for residents, visitors, and businesses on Captiva Island. 

Growth and development can increase the demand for emergency services in several ways, including: 

• Higher call volumes for fire and medical emergencies 

• Increased population density and visitor activity 

• Greater infrastructure complexity 

• Expanded need for disaster response, evacuation coordination, and recovery support 

As the community evolves, the District must evaluate whether its facilities, equipment, and staffing are adequate to continue meeting service demands and response expectations. 

The Fire District periodically evaluates its facilities and long-term operational needs. Current discussions reflect: 

• Facility vulnerabilities to storm surge which has been realized with previous storms 

• Limited infrastructure capacity (Apparatus storage, staff quarters, parking, etc) 

• Increased emphasis on hurricane resilience and emergency preparedness 

• Limited availability of suitable property on Captiva Island 

• The need for facilities that can support modern fire, EMS, and disaster-response operations 

Florida law requires voter approval before an independent special district may issue long-term general-obligation bonds. The referendum provides Captiva voters the opportunity to decide whether the District may pursue this funding option. 

If voters do not approve the bond referendum: 

• The District cannot issue the proposed bonds 

• Property acquisition and related capital improvements would not proceed under this funding approach 

• The District would continue operating with existing facilities and resources 

Any future changes or proposals would require separate evaluation and, if applicable, additional Board action or voter approval. 

Insurance rates are determined by private insurance companies and are influenced by many factors. In general, insurers may consider what the ISO classification of the District is.  Currently, the Fire District holds a rating of class 3 out of 10 with class 1 being the best.  In order to keep or improve the rating, the District will be expected to increase staffing, equipment and training initiatives.  As part of the insurance evaluation, the following factors are also considered: 

• Fire protection capabilities 

• Emergency response times 

• Availability of water supply and fire suppression resources 

• Communication resources 

• Community risk factors 

The Fire District does not set insurance rates and cannot guarantee specific impacts. Residents should consult their insurance provider for information about how fire protection services may factor into individual insurance policies. 

All information will be posted at: 
www.captivafire.com 

You may also contact District Administration at: 
info@captivafire.org or (239) 472-9494