FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Pete Winton, Lee County Administration
(941) 335-2777
LEE COUNTY GOVERNMENT ADOPTS FISCAL YEAR 2002-03
BUDGET
FORT MYERS, Fla. (September 19, 2002) – At a final public hearing Tuesday night, the Board of Lee County Commissioners adopted the Fiscal Year 2002-03 County Budget.
The budget includes increases for public safety and roadway landscaping, several major transportation projects and spending of more than $615 million for operations and new capital projects.
There are no increases in any of the county’s tax rates. The county’s new fiscal year begins October 1. Included in the budget is:
$268 million for county operations, including an increase of $6 million to add more EMS paramedics, ambulances and stations for quicker response to medical emergencies. Also included is increased operational funding for the continued expansion of the county’s library, parks and transportation systems ($7 million total), $1 million for planning and development services to keep up with growth and permitting activity, and a $2 million subsidy increase for public transit (LeeTran).
$133 million for constitutional officers (Tax Collector, Sheriff, Property Appraiser, Clerk of Court and Supervisor of Elections) and court services, including $83 million for the Sheriff’s Office. Of the Sheriff’s increase, $4 million is earmarked to staff the 352-bed jail expansion at the Ortiz Correctional Facility.
$214 million for new capital projects, including $37 million for the 600 ton-per-day expansion of the Waste-to-Energy Facility, $17 million for Lakes Regional Library, $13 million for Conservation 2020 purchases and $10 million for the widening of Three Oaks Parkway from Alico to Corkscrew roads (see detailed list of major projects below). To date, more than 10,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land has been purchased for long-term conservation through the Conservation 2020 Program.
Major transportation projects starting next year include widenings of Business 41 and Pondella Road in North Fort Myers, Gunnery Road in Lehigh Acres, Bonita Beach Road in Bonita Springs, Three Oaks Parkway in the San Carlos Park area, the extension of Palmetto Avenue in Fort Myers, and the rehabilitation of the Cape Coral and Sanibel toll facilities.
$500,000 in tourist taxes is earmarked to fund the new Lee County Sport Development Council (or Sports Authority), which will assist in marketing and promoting the area as a host for local, national and international sports events.
Included in the operational funding is $2.4 million for human services/community agencies (see list below).
Included in the capital funding is $3.9 million for beach and shoreline projects through the Tourist Development Council and paid for with tourist taxes (see list below).
TOP FY2003 NEW CAPITAL PROJECT EXPENDITURES (in
millions):
Project
Amount
Description
Waste-to-Energy
Expansion
37.0
Start of 600 ton-per-day expansion
Lakes Regional Library
17.4
Build 40,000 s.f. regional library
Conservation 2020
13.3
Ongoing purchase of env.-sensitive lands
Three Oaks Pkwy. Widening
10.0
Widen to 4 lanes from Corkscrew to
Alico
Sanibel Bridge Rehabilitation
9.2
Replace fixed bridges/Rehab. drawbridge
Gunnery Road Widening
7.3
Widen to 4 lanes from SR82 to Lee Blvd.
Justice Center Expansion
6.1
Planning for additional Justice Center space
Palmetto Avenue Extension
6.1
Fill in gaps between SR82 to Colonial
Blvd.
FGCU Research Park Road
4.5
Privately funded road improvements
Sanibel Toll Plaza Rehab.
4.5
Redesign/Imprvmnts for Electronic Tolls
Green Meadows Interconnect
4.3
Interconnect with Corkscrew Water Plant
Lee County Medical Examiner
3.7
Renovation/expansion of county morgue
Three Oaks Pkwy. South
3.3
New 4 lanes from E. Terry to Bonita Bill
Road Resurf./Rebuild.
3.2
Ongoing maintenance of existing roads
Koreshan Extension
2.8
Extend over I-75 to Ben Hill Griffin Pkwy.
Inspector/Licensing Bldg.
2.6
New bldg. across from Ft. Myers City
Hall
Roadway Landscaping
2.5
Increased landscaping in unincorp. areas
COMMUNITY AGENCIES FUNDING
SUPPORTED LIVING/HOUSING
($852,076)
§ IMPACT for Developmental Education, Inc. -- $216,500
§ Lee Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc. -- $308,297
§ Senior Friendship Centers of Lee County -- $104,779
§ Island Coast AIDS Network -- $167,500
§
Visually Impaired Persons -- $55,000
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ($747,587)
§ Catholic Hispanic Social Services -- $105,111
§ Child Care of Southwest Florida -- $400,000
§ Dr. Piper Center for Social Services, Inc. -- $87,378
§ Lee Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc. -- $135,098
§
Visually Impaired Persons -- $20,000
§ Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Southwest Florida, Inc. -- $144,750
§ Lutheran Services -- $46,605
§ Southwest Florida Addiction Services, Inc. -- $173,098
§
The Village Center --
$80,000
§ Abuse Counseling and Treatment, Inc. -- $239,747
§ Children’s Advocacy Center -- $50,000
§
The
Nations Association -- $24,031
BEACH AND SHORELINE PROJECTS FUNDING
City of Sanibel
Beach Erosion Monitoring $35,000
Bowman's Beach Park Lookout Replacement $25,000
Brazilian Pepper Removal at City Beach Parks $40,000
Brazilian Pepper Removal at J.N. "Ding" Darling $85,000
Facility/Beach Maintenance $48,000
Landscaping and Dune Plantings at City Beach Parks $60,000
Restroom at Boat Ramp Property $60,000
Lee County Public Works
Capitalized Beach Front Park Maintenance $215,000
County Wide Boardwalk Deck Improvements $75,000
Lee County Parks and Recreation
Caloosahatchee Regional Park Oxbow Islands $80,000
Matlacha Park Pier & Restroom Replacements $333,000
Operation Beach Maintenance $761,000
Lee County Natural Resources
Bathing Beach Water Quality Monitoring $10,000
Beach Renourishment Trust Fund $1,300,000
City of Fort Myers
Historic Caloosahatchee Seawall on the Estates
$156,250
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Cayo Costa State Park
Bayside Facility Improvements $100,000
Gasparilla Island State Park
Restroom Project $71,500
Lovers Key State Park
ADA Beach Access/Footbridge Upgrade $26,000
City of Cape Coral
Four Mile Ecological Preserve - Maintenance $24,000
Glover Bight Trail - Phase II $425,000
Yacht Club Community Park - Beach Maintenance
$10,000
TOTAL
$3,939,750