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County approves budget

3 min read

What a difference a year makes.

Just one year after a contentious final budget meeting that featured more than 200 speakers and lasted long into the night, this year’s budget meeting felt more friendly and lasted a grand total of 32 minutes with only three speakers, all of whom gave positive reviews for the way things went.

And, yes, the Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday in Fort Myers unanimously passed the budget.

Well, sort of.

“It’s a new year and a new process and we feel strongly that this is a responsible budget, so we’re pleased,” Commissioner John Manning said. “There’s more transparency than there has ever been, and I think we tried to alleviate a lot of the concerns and we pulled it off.”

The budget includes $357 million for the general fund ($75 million less than in 2007), while the total operating and capital budget is $925 million.

This year’s budget is projected to produce a surplus of $20 million in reserves, as opposed to last year, when Lee County faced a $37 million deficit.

For the first time in six years, services have not been cut. Some of the significant items in the budget include the widening of Burnt Store Road and the Pine Island Commercial Marina dock replacement and dredging, among other things.

As for Conservation 20/20, a .1 mill equivalent has been dedicated to maintenance, the budget holds $100 million in accounts for land acquisition.

“Nobody was totally happy, but it’s the fairest budget we’ve had. So I’m looking forward to next year,” Manning, of Cape Coral, said.

The general fund tax rate is 4.15 mills, which equals $415 in taxes for a homeowner with a $150,000 home (taxable value of $100,000 after $50,000 in homestead exemptions).

Commissioner Brian Hamman had an issue with the general fund, in that it included the 20/20 millage to balance the budget. As a result he voted against the general fund, which passed 4-1.

That was his only complaint, however. He voted in favor of the total budget.

“We heard a lot of positive comments from the folks who spoke. I was a big part of this budget along with the rest of us and I voted positively on 11 of the 12 items tonight,” Hamman said.

Last year, candidate Hamman witnessed the budget squabble with more than 200 people voicing their disapproval.

On Thursday, three people spoke, including Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott, who called this budget process, the 10th of which he’s been a part, the smoothest to date.

Another speaker, Mike Ulrich, from Cape Coral, said he was glad the process went well, but added that next year, they should tackle para-transit riders and making it easier for them to get where they need to go.

“Many blind people want to go to the Yacht Club instead of Fort Myers Beach. It would cost them far less money,” Ulrich said. “You can’t please everyone; hopefully you’ll please more next year.”

“I believe it’s because of our chairman (Larry Kiker) and the collaborative process we had this year, where we got to speak candidly about our priorities,” Hamman said.