It took two hours of discussion, but the city council on Marco Island has approved a budget and a nearly 2% increase in the property tax rate. The new budget year begins October 1.

But none of the extra tax money will be used to repair roads and bridges, at least not immediately. Some on the island claim that those repairs are years overdue.

The tax rate hike will bring in an estimated $482,000, according to the city staff. The council directed that most of that money must go into reserves.

Some council members had trouble with a tax rate hike because they campaigned last year on not raising the rate at all.

Two weeks ago the council earmarked some of the new money to repair a public boardwalk that's been damaged by hurricanes.

But the council changed its mind on committing that money

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