Fort Myers Beach and Iona-McGregor voters will decide whether to merge their fire districts on Nov. 3

Voters in the Fort Myers Beach and Iona-McGregor fire districts will decide a proposed merger on Nov. 3.

Enrolled CS/HB 4013, which became Chapter 2026-192, puts the question on the general-election ballot. The law takes effect only upon the required majority vote of qualified electors of the two districts participating in the referendum.

Approval would abolish the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District as a separate entity. Its territory would become part of the Iona-McGregor Fire Protection and Rescue Service District, and its assets and liabilities, including pension liabilities, would transfer to Iona-McGregor.

The law also creates a transitional governing board. The five Iona-McGregor commissioners would be joined until the next general election by the two Fort Myers Beach commissioners whose terms expire in 2028.

Kyle Schmidt at Gulf Coast News reported Thursday on the service and financial questions surrounding the vote.

The Fort Myers Beach district says in its official merger explainer that it currently staffs five response units with 16 firefighters per shift. The district says its stated merger plan would operate three units with 12 firefighters per shift, eliminating two fire-based ambulances and four funded positions per shift.

The same district document lists $21.7 million in four dedicated savings accounts for construction, vehicles and equipment, hurricane operations and health-insurance reserves. Chapter 2026-192 confirms that assets and liabilities would transfer, but it does not state a dollar amount or set staffing levels.

Schmidt reported that Iona-McGregor had not commented on the proposal before the Gulf Coast News article was published.

A yes vote would approve the merger and transfers. A no vote would keep the districts separate.