Charlotte County commissioners are determining which projects to prioritize over the next several years, in the midst of setbacks from recent hurricanes.
They have between now and July to gather reports and recommendations from county department heads. The items earmarked for inclusion in the 2026-27 budget will be finalized in September when the new budget and millage rate are set.
County Financial Manager Francine Lisby said destroyed buildings added to the Capital Needs Assessment complexities, and the county is still dealing with the Hazard Mitigation Program for hurricanes Ian and Idalia.
A new Cultural Center of Charlotte County and adjoining library, estimated to cost $65.79 million, is earmarked for the fiscal year 2027 budget.
That didn’t sit well with Commissioner Stephen R. Deutsch. “A lot of us thought we’d be working on the Cultural Center by now. And the reality is, we’re two, three years out at least,” he said during the commission’s Feb. 18 workshop.
Deutsch said the Cultural Center timeline is “a prime example of how our state of emergencies set us back from our goal and where we have to deviate from the plan.”
Facilities Management Director Travis Perdue outlined the various buildings to be budgeted in upcoming years. Commissioner Joe Tiseo asked him whether a theater will be included in the Cultural Center’s rebuild.
Perdue said it was in the design plan “in fiscal year 2028, for whatever you all decide to move forward.”
The Cultural Center, located on 8.03 acres at 2280 Aaron St., opened its doors in 1960 and served as a social hub for decades.
At numerous meetings, residents urged commissioners to open the Cultural Center as soon as possible, with many sharing their personal stories of what the center meant to them.
Meanwhile, construction is underway at Mid-County Regional Library in Port Charlotte with it expected to open in the winter. Repairs and renovations are expected to cost about $6.9 million.
The library building once served as a Kash n’ Karry convenience store and was purchased by the county in 2002, renovated and reopened as a library in 2005.
Like the Cultural Center, it suffered severe damage from Hurricane Ian.
Sheriff Bill Prummell spoke on behalf of the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
He seeks a new aircraft, and commissioners listened as several options were relayed by CCSO Chief Pilot Shane Engelauf.
A new aircraft would cost $12 million to $15 million, and a refurbished military Black Hawk helicopter that has the capability of conducting search and rescues, fire suppression, law enforcement and mosquito control would cost $7 million.
Engelauf recommended the refurbished helicopter. Commissioners agreed they would budget it sooner than 2028 when $10,626,000 is earmarked for a helicopter.
The Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center is budgeted for an $8,257,000 parking garage in 2027.
There are numerous emergency operations and fire stations improvements scheduled for 2026 and 2027. Several parks will see improvements in 2026 and 2027, as well.
Aside from repairs and rebuilds due to hurricane damage, many budget item additions are due to the burgeoning growth of the county.
