FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Booch DeMarchi, Lee County Public Resources
             (941) 335-2481

LEE COUNTY COMMISSION HONORING ITS
CITIZEN COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS

FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 27, 2003) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners will honor the hundreds of volunteers who sit on county advisory committees at an appreciation reception Tuesday (April 1) morning.

The reception will be at 8:30 a.m. at the Old County Courthouse steps and courtyard, 2120 Main Street in downtown Fort Myers. Refreshments will be provided.

The reception affords the County Commissioners an opportunity to say thank you to all the citizens who volunteer their time to serve on these committees during the year.

The County Commission has more than 100 advisory committees, boards and authorities with 850 citizen volunteers. These committees advise the Commission on a whole range of subjects and issues - everything from sidewalks and bike paths, to economic development to Smart Growth to beach and shoreline preservation.

A majority of these committees - about 60 - are Municipal Services Taxing and Benefit Unit Advisory Committees.

A taxing or benefit unit is basically a partnership between property owners and the county. Residents want an improvement to their neighborhood, so they band together to tax or assess themselves for the construction and maintenance of the project. The county's role is to complete the project and obtain the financing. A taxing unit (MSTU) is funded with an additional property tax - so the amount of the tax depends on the value of the home. Taxing units typically pay for ongoing services. A benefit unit (MSBU) pays for a project with an assessment based on some other factor, such as property size or road frontage. Benefit units usually are set up to pay for capital projects.

Services most often funded with MSTUs include streetlights, added security services, landscape maintenance, park maintenance at some level above what the county provides, and canal maintenance. Typical capital projects funded by MSBUs include road paving and drainage, canal excavation, beach renourishment, sidewalks, bike paths and sewer and potable water.

The balance of the committees are established by the Board of County Commissioners to advise it on continuing issues. Some of the better-known committees include the Airports Special Management Committee, Tourist Development Council, Horizon Council, Smart Growth Advisory Committee, Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board and Conservation 20/20 Committee.