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Commissioner Hall updates local business leaders on Lee County and local issues

5 min read

Lee County Commissioner Tammy Hall addressed the local business community at the monthly North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Business Leaders luncheon, talking about current key issues in Lee County and North Fort Myers.

The North Fort Myers area is a special place to her. “I have lived in North Fort Myers for many years, and so has Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott and County Manager Karen Hawes,” she said.

She talked at length about the Lee County budget, and key North Fort Myers’ concerns such as the proposed new community center and a future new North Fort Myers Library.

“There are a lot of exciting things taking place in Lee County,” she said. “We go back in session Aug. 2 with a board meeting, and then shortly thereafter we go into budget talks.”

The first order of business to be settled on is the millage rate. After that comes heavy budget deliberations, with two budget hearings open to the public Sept. 5 and 21 at 5 p.m. where community members can voice their opinions.

In the meantime, Hall is asking that people call or email her with their contact information so she can update them with her frequent blogs and email blasts. “You can call, but email works better for me and most of the commissioners,” she said.

Hall encourages everyone to email both her and all the county commissioners with support of projects. “I need to have two men agree with me,” she said, of votes with her male colleagues on the commission.

On the Lee County Budget, she talked about the five different funds for the county. “The General Fund, which is $338-million, is where we have a deficit.”

She said that 45 percent of that fund goes to the Sheriff’s Office, a majority to county staffing and programs.

The county is $46 million short in just that fund. “We do have reserves, but we need to start looking really, really hard at all of our departments.”

The decline in property taxes has had a big effect. “Out of that $338 million, only $193 million comes from property taxes,” Hall said. “I committed that I would not raise fees nor increase taxes to make up that shortfall.”

That includes county employee salaries. “We have 24,000 employees and they have given up 7 percent of their salaries, have had furloughs and benefits taken away, and no raises in four years.”

Hall said both she and Hawes are against more furloughs and some other employee reduction in pay issues. “Many of the employees make under $30,000 a year,ìhow much can they take?”

Hall said both Sheriff Scott and Hawes have made significant cuts.

Specifically concerning North Fort Myers, she talked about the proposed Community Center and the possible expansion of the library.

“The Community Center has been put into the budget, to be built with impact fees, not property tax dollars. I definitely need to have you, starting Aug. 2, email in support of the project.”

It will take North Fort Myers a long time to pay back the balance from the impact fees going in. “But now is the time to make it happen,” Hall said, citing lower costs for construction.

She commended North Fort Myers Civic Association president Gregg Makepeace on his lobbying for the project. She said she also feels strongly for the need for a Community Center/Emergency Shelter in the area. “This community center needs to happen here.”

“I’m also a big proponent of a new library,” Hall said. “When Northwest Regional opened in Cape Coral many said users would gravitate there, but that’s not the case. Not happening. I will be advocating for a new regional library here, that will serve North Fort Myers and this side of the river.”

It may not be at the current site. “We keep bandaiding that building, which is a waste of money.” She asked the business leaders to support that project as well when it comes up.

She also noted the new Publix breaking ground at Bayshore and Slater Roads, a business boost to the area.

“Natural Resources is also finishing up the project at Prairie Pines Preserve.” Restoration and water flow are priorities, and work toward the goal of cleaning up the Caloosahatchee. “That is the backbone of our local tourism.”

She also talked about tourism in general, with the fact that nearly half of our tourists come from outside of the United States. “We just started a direct flight from Denmark in June and we will be working on other direct flights.”

“The opening of the new Red Sox Stadium is also exciting.”

To show your support of different projects, including the community center, you can contact all of the commissioners. Their separate addresses are:

— Lee County, Florida District 4

Commissioner Tammy Hall

Phone: 533-2226

FAX: 485-2054

Email: dist4@leegov.com

Mailing Address:

Box 398, Ft. Myers, Florida 33902-0398

— Lee County, Florida District 1

Commissioner John Manning

Phone: 533-2224

FAX: 485-2155

Email: dist1@leegov.com

Mailing Address:

Box 398, Ft. Myers, Florida 33902-0398

— Lee County, Florida District 2

Commissioner Brian Bigelow

Phone: 533-2227

FAX:485-2099

Email: District2@leegov.com

Mailing Address:

Box 398, Ft. Myers, Florida 33902-0398

— Lee County, Florida District 3

Commissioner Ray Judah

Phone: 533-2223

FAX: 485-2021

Email: dist3@leegov.com

Mailing Address:

Box 398, Ft. Myers, Florida 33902-0398

— Lee County, Florida District 5

Chairman of the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, Commissioner Frank Mann

Phone: 533-2225

FAX: 485-2092

Email: dist5@leegov.com

Mailing Address:

Box 398, Ft. Myers, Florida 33902-0398

The chamber monthly meetings are held at Bianca’s Ristorante Italiano, the third Wednesday of every month. For information on upcoming Business Leaders Luncheons call the chamber at 997-9111.