MARCO ISLAND, FL — Sun, Sand, and Smoke: Paradise Gets a Civic Makeover (and a Tax Hike)

Ah, Marco Island — where the sunsets are golden, the ocean breeze is warm, and the infrastructure… is in full-blown midlife crisis.

This week, city officials rolled out a lineup of public works projects that reads more like a summer blockbuster: annual road resurfacing (feat. Detour Roulette), a $4.7 million traffic overhaul (co-starring Orange Cones and Lane Closures), and the headliner — a sewer smoke-testing operation that promises to gently puff theatrical plumes out of your toilet, yard, and perhaps even your soul.

Yes, that haze you saw wasn’t from a barbecue gone wrong — it’s a planned, “harmless” diagnostic test. Nothing says luxury coastal living quite like explaining to guests that the smoke rising from your front yard isn’t a new grill technique, but municipal maintenance.

And because every good drama needs a plot twist, the City Council has tentatively approved a 34% property tax increase for Fiscal Year 2026. That’s right — an extra $440 a year on your million-dollar bungalow for the joy of fewer potholes and mildly haunted plumbing.

Reactions among residents range from gritted-teeth acceptance to full-scale spreadsheet rage. Some are embracing the improvements as “necessary upgrades,” while others are Googling how much fuel it takes to get a yacht to the Bahamas.

Adding to the vibe: steamy August weather, daily afternoon thunderstorms, and humidity levels that make your sunglasses fog up just thinking about them. It’s all part of the full Marco Island experience — part tropical paradise, part bureaucratic fever dream.

So whether you’re a die-hard islander or just here for the week, prepare for the ultimate coastal adventure. Pack sunscreen, patience, and maybe a smoke detector — Marco Island is getting things done, and it’s going to be unforgettable.