Lee taxable values rise 4.6% in preliminary tax roll

Lee County Property Appraiser Matt Caldwell released the county's preliminary 2026 tax roll July 1, showing taxable property values rising 4.56% to $156.3 billion as local governments begin preparing budgets and proposed property tax rates for the coming fiscal year.

Assessed values increased 4.65% to $180.3 billion, while school taxable values rose 1.96% to $171.8 billion. Although the county's total just value, an estimate of market value before assessment limits and exemptions are applied, declined 0.96% to $217.7 billion, taxable values continued to increase because of new construction and annual assessment growth on many existing properties.

Among municipalities, Fort Myers Beach posted the largest increase in taxable value at 8.52%, followed by Sanibel at 8.15%. Cape Coral's taxable value grew 3.31%, Bonita Springs increased 2.38%, Fort Myers edged up 0.45% and Estero rose 0.39%.

Just values fell 5.88% in Estero, 4.05% in Bonita Springs, 1.62% in Fort Myers Beach, 1.58% in Cape Coral and 1.07% in Fort Myers. Sanibel's just value increased 1.27%.

Property owners will receive Truth in Millage notices in mid-August after local taxing authorities set proposed tax rates.