The Latest News: February, 2026
Property Taxes
Property taxes in this major Florida city spiked nearly 400%, report shows. December 17, 2025. As Tallahassee targets tax cuts, new studies ranking all 67 counties and many cities on property taxes in Florida made the news again.
Florida property taxes have grown beyond the rate of inflation since 2014. Some of the highest growth rates were concentrated in major urban areas but KCB is right up there with the biggest. Statewide, property tax levies have risen nearly 40% in just the last three years (as of late 2025) and have more than doubled over the last decade, according to a report published by the nonprofit Florida Tax Watch.
The top Florida cities/areas for property tax growth between 2014 and 2024.
- Apopka ranked highest in the state with a 372% growth over that period.
- Key Colony Beach topped all the others in that report with a 196.3% growth rate in just six years between 2019 and 2025 (years that are available online). KCB's total property taxes per capita of $4,673 is only a couple hundred less than the county charges.
- Port St. Lucie: ranked fourth in the state with a 257% growth over that period.
- Homestead: 191.4% growth rate.
- Orlando: 164.2% growth rate.
- Kissimmee: 161.5% growth rate.
- Palm Bay: 158.2% growth rate.
- West Palm Beach: 156.3% growth rate
Water Is Short
The Marathon Weekly reports that the lack of rainfall and increased water demand have led to a water shortage in the Biscayne Aquifer used by the Keys. The South Florida Water Management District has issued a water shortage warning for the Florida Keys and nearby neighboring counties. The ongoing severe or extreme drought conditions have led to low water levels in the underground aquifer in Miami Dade County.
What will the KCB City Commission do at the meeting on February 19?
The city commission will host a regular monthly meeting in Marble Hall and on Zoom beginning at 3:30 p.m. [Note the NEW time] on Thursday, February 19.Note that the restriction on public commentary continues for all meetings; "Members of the Public may speak for three minutes and may only speak once unless waived by a majority vote of the commission."The agenda includes city hall updates, landscape improvements, Marathon Fire/Rescue's service, the waterway compliance program, several invitations to bid, changes to fees, new ordinances, fishing pier upgrades, and moving the Farmers Market.
KCBers may want to ask our commissioners about these items on the agenda or other issues in the city.
KCB logged about 7.3% of Marathon Fire/Rescue service calls in January. In FY25, KCB's payment was $970,000 against the total Fire/Rescue budget of $8,155,853. People Are Asking why we pay 11.9% of the Marathon budget for 7.3% of the costs.Read the full Key Colony Beach City Commission Meeting Agenda and Packet here: http://PeopleAreAsking.org/resources/2026/02-19-2026-regular-meeting-packet.pdf.
Committee and Department Reports:
City manager Bartus published Invitations to Bid for Pavers at the Shelter Bay Drive Retention Pond, the basketball court, and a shade structure for the pickleball court. The bid opening for the pickleball shade is scheduled for February 20 and for the basketball court on February 27. The fishing pier project in Sunset Park is underway and public works director Guarino has ordered the fish cleaning station.
Public works installed flower boxes for the causeway bridge.Consent Items:
Items to be voted on one motion include approval of the meeting minutes, appointment of Nancy Helme as an alternate to the Beautification Committee, installation of a 40,000-pound elevator style boatlift, and a warrant for $691,751.58Action Items:
The commission will discuss awarding a contract for pervious pavers at the retention pond at 7th Street and Shelter Bay Drive.The commission will discuss the purchase and outfitting of a Ford F-250 pickup truck for the police department for $88,065.20.
The commission will discuss installing a surveillance camera and Wi-Fi at Sunset Park at an annual cost of $3,154.20 for Internet connectivity alone.
The request for WiFi was made by a KCB property owner with no suggestion of cameras. The Recreation Committee declined to make either a positive or negative recommendation and deferred the matter to the city commission for determination. Other KCBers have expressed concern about data collection and the increased surveillance.The Recreation Committee made several recommendations:
Increasing the size of the putting green.
Golf course safety improvements
City funds for the purchase of outdoor furniture for the golf course, including tables.
Installation of pavers at the bocce court.The commission will discuss the utility board recommendation for $37 marina monthly sewer charges per pump out connection.
The commission will have first readings of a wide ranging ordinance adding seawall conditions, compliance requirements, enforcement, and more to the city code as well as an ordinance amending a scrivenor’s error in 2026-508 regarding plan densities for commercial, resort, and public buildings
They will also discuss resolutions to change several fees for building department permits and services and for other city services.
Commissioner Harding's February 9 Wastewater Report shows no detections in KCB of Influenza A H5, B, NVO, MPX Clade 1, or Measles in the last 30 days. On the other hand COVID spiked in the January 13 and January 22 samples. Influenza A1, A2 and A H3 rose significantly again.
Commissioners' Reports
Commissioner Harding will also discuss the Monroe County Water Shortage Warning.
Commissioner Diehl will update the seawall inspections
Vice-Mayor Colonell has a city hall update
Mayor Foster has a grant update.(Please note: our email system seems determined to change the "URL" of these uploads. You may also copy and paste the link above into your browser or find the originals on the city website.)
Click or tap here to email your questions and comments to the commissioners and city clerk .
Join the 02/19/26 meeting from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device:
Please click or tap this URL to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84685945275?pwd=Dhl4s48dKaShfsSCvRYPBYXeaVOkgo.1
Passcode: 461649
What did the City Commission do at the Regular Meeting on February 19, 2026?
"40 Days Behind Schedule"
The city commission held a regular meeting at the new time of 3:30 - 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, February 19. Find what KCBers had to say here.
Vice-Mayor Colonell gave a city hall update. The contractor misread the demolition drawings but has completed the bulk demolition. The spalling work is finished. He's falling behind on structural steel and submittals. The contractor stated that his pile driving drilling machine is 2-3 weeks out so that's another stumbling block. The project is about 40 days behind. Waiting for the pile driver means getting even farther behind. We have asked for a recovery schedule.
Commissioner Diehl proposed a "KCB Spring Cleanup Day," to put a couple dumpsters at 7th Street Park, or somewhere in the vicinity and let the residents dump their oversized belongings into these containers.
He also sought the Commission's full authorization to engage the city attorneys as necessary. "They were told to stand down." After a long discussion with the mayor and one city attorney, Mayor Foster said, "I think I told you five times, and I'm going to tell you once more. You guys are approved."Silvia Roussin reported that if trash doesn't fit in the supplied trash cans, make a pile, take a picture and text it to MGS (305.743.5165). They will schedule a pickup at no charge. "If you just put it by the road, they won't get it." Mayor Foster reminded that, "No construction debris there, Kirk."City manager Bartus opened at least two bids for the pickleball shade on February 20.
Commissioner Difransico suggested rescinding adding the fish cleaning station on the Sunset Park pier. Mayor Foster replied "I don't want to have that discussion here." Both he and vice mayor Colonell felt the issue was well documented, talked about, vetted, "and now at the 12th hour we want to undo it." Commissioner Difransico pointed out that he and others in KCB misunderstood what was purchased. After considerable discussion, the motion to add the item to the agenda failed.
Sgt. Buxton was commended for her heroic life saving actions when she discovered an unconscious female victim in a pool of blood on 10th Street.
Citizen comments and correspondence applauded improvements to public spaces and suggested burying the overhead wires, but objected to WiFi in the park, surveillance cameras, the "fishing pier," city boat, lower speed limits, the no parking signs, and the license plate readers. Those comments have been listed separately.
All the new Trauma Star helicopters are now in service. Chief Muro reported that they are transporting up to the mainland, on average, 12 a day and sometimes 16 high acuity patients that can't have their needs met locally.
The commission approved the meeting minutes, appointed Nancy Helme to Beauts, approved installation of a 40,000-pound boat lift, and passed the warrant for $691,751.58. They discussed city elections.
Cynthia Catto discussed meeting with Commissioner Harding and Daryl Rice for a 2-year plan, including safety that Daryl would solve with some tree plantings, some netting, plus the clubhouse porch, the ninth tee box, a mini driving range, and doubling the old putting green.
The commission unanimously approved awarding a contract to Mike Haak for pervious pavers at 7th Street and Shelter Bay combined with a project on West Ocean Drive. They discussed the parking problems the installation would cause and the need to drive on the finished pavers. They determined the project would be about $40,000 short and to "take the extra 35, 40,000 out of the storm, the stormwater account and pay for this work."
The commission unanimously bought and outfitted another Ford F-250 for the police department, "paid for by ICE."
After a long discussion, the commission unanimously approved spending up to $30,000 for golf course safety improvements and outdoor furniture. They will put the putting green expansion and bocce court improvements off to next year.
The commission discussed installing a camera and Wi-Fi at Sunset Park. Commissioner Harding did note that "people are looking down more at their phones than they are at the ocean" and that there has been concern about this being for surveillance. Commissioner Diehl noted costs of $5,684 installation for the first year and the $3,100 a year after that. Mayor Foster commented "All right, so we'll table that until we got more data and price."
After extensive discussion the commission approved 4:1 the $37 monthly marina sewer charges per pump out connection.
Before the commission could get to the first reading of the ordinance adding seawall compliance and enforcement, they discussed raising the fine with a city attorney. They learned the Army Corps of Engineers and Florida DEP take anywhere from 4 to 6 months. "One on 10th Street, it took 9 to 10 months to get approved." They determined a need to tweak the timeline for violators and the notice that the property owner must submit all permit applications. With those changes, they unanimously approved implementing the ordinance for seawall compliance.
The commission then unanimously approved first reading of ordinance 2026-509 after Mayor Foster read, the edits: "Section 2B shall read 'notice of unsafe or deteriorated seawall. Upon determination by the building official or city engineer that a seawall is deteriorated, damaged, failing, or otherwise unsafe, written notice shall be issued by the code official to the property owner identifying deficiencies and required corrective actions.' The only other change will be section 2c. Number 4 will read 'within 12 months of permit approval, all seawall repair repairs or replacement shall be fully competed and completed and approved by the city'."
Commissioner Harding's Wastewater Report shows COVID is still hanging around at low levels. We went through a cycle in February with influenza A and A2, and AH3 peaks but it looks like those peaks have come down. Influenza B and RSV are still hanging around.
Commissioner Diehl reported that he and building official Tony Loreno performed seawall inspections on February 12. The marine engineer was unavailable and did not accompany them. They started at 7th Street and worked up to the 12th and 13th Street Canal. He said, "The worst canal was the 10th and 11th Street canal." They found about 50 seawalls that need repairs and 22 they feel are critical. They will do the final canals in March.
"Everybody should be aware that we're in a water shortage warning. We're in one of the worst droughts in about 10 years." This is a voluntary request to cut down irrigation to once a week and minimize any other water usage through the end of May.
He also proposed using the 7th Street boat ramp lot as a tractor trailer round about for the post office with signage on the lot "for postal vehicles only."It was also suggested that the post office trucks load and unload on 7th Street, and then simply "drive around the block."Mayor Foster reported on a new $455,000 grant for the city hall as well as another bill in from Pedro Falcon. Another grant "made it through the first cut" and is now in legislative committee for discussion. He asked commissioner Harding to follow up.
Find what KCBers had to say at and about this meeting.
Florida Keys Day(s)
The Marathon Weekly reports that Mayor Foster met with the Department of Commerce about KCB's sewer plant and stormwater management and thanked the Department of Environmental Protection for a $2.3 million storm drain improvement project. State Rep. Mooney and Sen. Rodriguez supported a $1 million appropriation request for the sewer plant.
US1 Closures in Marathon
The Marathon Weekly reports that single lane closures of southbound U.S. 1 will start Tuesday. The City of Marathon is starting the court mandated deep injection well project for its wastewater effluent disposal system.
KCB Calendar
New City Hall is Underway
Construction and renovations to Marble Hall have been underway for XX days. The bulk demolition and the structural spalling repairs to Marble Hall beams and columns are complete. During this phase of the project, access to the post office, parking areas, and portions of the property will be affected. There will be signs, barriers, and fencing to guide us through the parking lots, to the post office, and to Marble Hall.
Farmers Market
The KCB Farmers Market continues at a new location in the 7th Street Park on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. through the season. The commission chose the new location to avoid the city hall construction.
Beauty in KCB
Beauts and friends are looking for help to mulch and trim on Wednesday mornings. Here's the work party schedule for upcoming weeks: https://keycolonybeach.net/2026/01/26/%f0%9f%8c%b4-2026-beautification-committee-work-party-schedule.
Concerts in KCB
The KCB Community Association Concerts in Sunset Park series continues live in the new tiki in Sunset Park on Sundays at 4 p.m.
Music fills KCB this season. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and your favorite beverage. Here's the schedule:
February 1: Canceled for Weather
February 15: Ericson Holt
February 22: Stormfront
March 1: KCB DAY!
March 8: Brothers of Others
March 15: 79th Street Band
March 22: Ocean Drive BandHot Dogs at the Hut
The Beautification and Recreation Committees jointly invite you to Hot Dogs at the Hut next to the KCB Post Office on Saturday, February 7, at noon - 5 p.m. The band Ocean Drive will perform at the community appreciation afternoon. And there will be free hot dogs, beer, wine, and soda. TV88 recorded the band at Sunset Park. It's on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/KeyColonyBeach/posts/2018080695639645
7-Meter Bridge Run
The famed 7-Meter Bridge Run kicks off at the north side of the bridge (yes, you'll have to go the entire length and turn around) on Tuesday, February 10, at 3 - 3:07 p.m. Training is crucial for this event so we caution drivers to be aware of competitors in the days and weeks before.
The KCBCA Food Truck Jamboree in the 7th Street Park near the bocce ball court will follow the 7-Meter Bridge Run on Tuesday, February 10, at 3:30 - 7:00 p.m. Pop's BBQ, Empanada Nation, the Pretzel Bar, Sabores Unidos, Cudjoe Pizza and more will be there. The Rick Lieder Band will perform. Admission is free; food is available for purchase. BYOB and lawn chairs. Find the KCBCA on Facebook for more.
Book Club
The KCB Book Club meets in Marble Hall on Thursday, February 12, at 3 p.m. (Note the new time). The group will discuss "Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The 2025 novel follows the story of a physicist who becomes one of the first female astronauts in the 1980s Space Shuttle program. There is secret romance, a space mission crisis, and family relationships.
Clambake!
The 2026 Fishing & Boating Clambake is here! Music, silent auction, t-shirts, beverages, all kinds of seafood and of course CLAMS will fill the 7th Street Park, near the bocce ball courts, Sunday, February 15, at noon. https://keycolonyfishing.com/events/clambake/ has tickets and more information.
KCB Day
The KCB Community Association celebrates the city's birthday with the 69th KCB Day day-long festival filled with live music from the Rick Lieder Band and a special guest appearance by the return of Elvis, (KCB favorite Mark Shelton), plus artists and artisans, local cuisine, the famed dog parade and the KCB Day parade at 11 a.m., barracuda races all day, and a silent auction, all on Sunday, March 1, at noon - 4 p.m. Artists include the KCBCA Shared Artist Gallery, Annie Bond, Ben Metal Art, In the Sun Seaglass, Island Art, Starfish Designs, Unique Arts, and many more. Free. Click here for more info.
Meetings
All Commission, Board, and Committee meetings will be moved to the afternoon starting at 3:30 p.m. This change anticipates the upcoming city hall construction. The post office hours are not changed.
During the construction period, there may be noise, dust, and increased activity on the entire lot. There will be a "safe passage through the parking lot to Marble Hall and the post office."
Commentary
about February issues