On Wednesday, April 5, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Town will receive an $11.9 million interest free bridge loan for operational expenses because of the impact of Hurricane Ian on the Town’s tax revenues and governmental operations. Mayor Dan Allers and Interim Town Manager Chris Holley were in Tallahassee to receive this news.
This loan is designed to cover the Town’s operational expenses until additional funding from sources such as FEMA is received. The Local Government Emergency Bridge Loan Program is managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO).
Operational expenses covered by the loan are associated with continuing, expanding, or modifying local governmental operations to meet disaster-related needs, and include costs such as, but not limited to, staff salaries and payroll.