Island Advisory Boards - Palm Island Estates

Let’s talk about our Island advisory boards.

We have two advisory boards for the Island. These boards were created by Charlotte County for our Island-specific taxing units.

Charlotte County has more MSTU and MSBU taxing units than any other county in Florida.

The Don Pedro/Knight Islands Street and Drainage Unit is an MSTU. We call the Advisory board attached to this unit the “Roads & Bridges” [R&B] committee. The Barrier Islands Fire Service Unit is an MSBU. The committee attached to this unit we call the “Fire Board”. These advisory boards were intended to be a liaison between the Island community and the County.

You can see our special taxing units on your tax bill. An MSTU is a “municipal services taxing unit”. It is an ad valorem tax that appears in the top portion of your tax bill. Ad valorem taxes are determined by using a millage rate, which is basically a percentage of your home’s market value. An MSBU is a “municipal services benefit unit”. It is a flat rate charged to you every year.

There are a few misperceptions about these committees.

The committee members are elected. Actually, they are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. You can apply to the county to sit on the board, then they vote on who serves.
The committee members must provide geographic representation. Many years ago that was required, but the County has since eliminated that rule to make all of the board protocols uniform across the County. It is expected that all Islanders may equally bring their concerns to the committee members.
These committees have some kind of authority. This is simply not so. They try to find reasonable solutions to issues brought to them by Islanders. But they are only positioned to provide input, suggestions and advice to Public Works or Fire & EMS. These recommendations can be ignored.

Other good, true things to know:

These committees only meet quarterly. That is why it takes so long for the committees to accomplish anything for the Island.
The committee meetings are open to the public. Islanders can attend these at any time to bring concerns and make suggestions. Islanders may also contact any of the committee members directly to provide input.
These volunteers are not compensated for their time.
Both committees are restricted to activities that are outlined in the ordinance governing the taxing unit. R&B has a broader mandate for project funding than the Fire Board.
Don Pedro and Knight Islands Street and Drainage Unit (meeting dates, times, minutes)
Barrier Islands Fire Service Unit (meeting dates, times, minutes)

Some committee achievements:

Roads & Bridges:

iguana control
sand road and wooden bridge maintenance
removal of invasive Brazilian pepper and Australian pines from public ROW
lowering the speed limit

Fire Board:

annual budget review
research on expenditures for Station 10

Palm Island Estates Association, Inc. is a voluntary, non-profit civic association of property owners on Knight Island, Palm Island, Don Pedro Island and Thornton Key. It was originally incorporated in 1980 “for the preservation of the natural environment and ecology of Knight and Don Pedro Islands.”

Today, its mission is to promote cooperation among all property owners, to offer a representative voice in civic and community affairs and to provide assistance and improvement to the islands.

Disclaimer: The content provided on this website is for informational purposes only and represents the views and opinions of Palm Island Estates community members. It is not intended as legal, financial, or professional advice. Palm Island Estates assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, or the accuracy of the information provided. Visitors are encouraged to consult with qualified professionals regarding any concerns or decisions. By using this site, you agree that Palm Island Estates and its contributors shall not be held liable for any actions taken based on the information presented here.