Estero's Village Council closed out its fiscal year budget process on September 23 with news that matters for anyone buying, selling, or already living in the community: the lowest property tax rate in the state of Florida, paired with a major new bond package aimed at two of the area's most-watched amenity projects — the Bonita Estero Rail Trail and an expanded Estero SportsPark.
A Budget With the Lowest Tax Rate in Florida
Council adopted the millage rate for fiscal year 2026-27 at .7300 mills — unchanged from the prior year and, according to the Village, the lowest municipal tax rate anywhere in Florida. The adopted budget totals $72,973,080, with $54,280,000 earmarked for Capital Improvement Projects. Only one public eComment was submitted before adoption at the September 23 hearing.
$65 Million in Bonds for the Rail Trail and SportsPark
Alongside the budget, Council adopted Resolution 2026-24, authorizing up to $65 million in Special Obligation Revenue Bonds, Series 2026. The proceeds are earmarked for two "legacy projects": acquisition of roughly 4.1 miles of rail corridor from Seminole Gulf Railway for the Bonita Estero Rail Trail (BERT), and Phase 2 of the Estero SportsPark, which is planned to add two full-size synthetic multi-use athletic fields (convertible to as many as four softball/baseball fields), an event lawn, walking paths, restroom buildings, a pavilion, a maintenance facility, a roadway extension, and additional parking.
Council also approved a first amendment to the BERT purchase and sale agreement with the Trust for Public Land, extending the inspection period and closing date to allow more time for due diligence on the corridor acquisition — a project SWFL voters previously funded in part through a separate $35 million bond referendum last August.
What This Means for Buyers and Sellers
A tax rate that holds steady as the lowest in Florida is a meaningful selling point for anyone comparing carrying costs across SWFL municipalities, and it signals the Village's continued capacity to fund growth without leaning harder on residents. The SportsPark expansion and rail trail acquisition are the kind of amenity investments that tend to support long-term property values in the surrounding neighborhoods, even though both projects will take time to materialize. If you're weighing how Estero's fiscal position or its recreation investments might affect a property you own or are considering, call Sky Coastal Realty at 239.745.8903 or visit our Estero Realtor page.
This post draws on the Village of Estero's official recap of the September 23, 2026 Council meeting, which described the budget as carrying "the lowest tax rate in the state of Florida" and detailed the bond authorization and BERT agreement amendment. Read the Village's full meeting summary at estero-fl.gov.