FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Pete Winton, Lee County Administration
               (239) 335-2777

BOARD LOWERS MAIN TAX RATE, WAITS TO DECIDE ON LIBRARY TAX/SETS AUGUST 10TH PUBLIC HEARING FOR CAUSEWAY TOLLS DISCUSSION

FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 27, 2004) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved the following items during its regular weekly meeting (backup can be viewed at
http://www.lee-county.com/meetings/agendafiles/2004/07-27-04/072704/072704.htm). They are:

Property Tax Rate - Unanimously voted to lower the county's main (general fund) property tax rate from $4.3277 (per $1,000 of taxable property value) to $4.2612, a $6.65 tax reduction on a home valued at $125,000 (with a $25,000 homestead exemption). The Board kept the library tax rate the same - with the intent of lowering it at the September budget public hearings (Sep. 8 and 22) if that is possible. Commissioners Andy Coy and Doug St. Cerny voted to lower the tax rate now instead of waiting. In the meantime, county staff will perform an analysis of library needs in Bonita Springs, Fort Myers and Sanibel (whose interlocal agreement is coming due Sep. 30) to determine what future capital projects are being requested and what level of library taxes would be required to meet those requests. County staff had recommended decreasing the library tax rate from .9630 cents (per $1,000 of taxable property value) to .6055 cents, a $35.70 tax reduction on a homesteaded residence valued at $125,000. In September, the Board could keep the rate the same, lower it to staff's recommendation, or opt for a rate somewhere in between.

Causeway Tolls - Set an Aug. 10 (5 p.m.) public hearing to discuss increasing Sanibel Causeway toll rates (the undiscounted rate is proposed to increase from $3 to $6). The hearing will be held in the County Commission Chambers, Old County Courthouse, 2120 Main St. in downtown Fort Myers. The Commission also requested a memo prior to the hearing from county staff detailing and quantifying the reasons for the increased bridges replacement costs and tolls (lawsuits, interest rates, construction materials, bond coverage ratios, insurance requirements). For detailed information of the tolls proposal, visit
http://lee-county.com/publicworks/sanibelcauseway.htm.

Park Fees Waived - Approved a resolution proclaiming July as National Parks and Recreation Month. The Board also waived parking fees at all Lee County regional parks and boat ramps, and pool entrance fees this coming weekend.

Estero Park Construction - Approved a $6.71 million loan from general fund reserves to help pay for the phase 1 construction of Estero Community Park (also approved a guaranteed maximum price of $10.78 million for the project to construction manager JL Wallace Inc.). The loan, with interest, will be repaid to the general fund with community park impact fees from the district that includes the Estero community. Repayment is estimated in nine-to-12 years but could be earlier depending on new construction growth in the area. The Board also recognized the Bonita Estero Area Board of Realtors for donating $25,000 to build a "tot lot" at the park.

Edison Home - Approved an amendment to the county's interlocal agreement with the City of Fort Myers for restoration of the Edison Home. The amendment allows the city to receive reimbursement for allowable expenses. See write-up below:

On October 28. 2003, the Board of County Commissioners executed an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Fort Myers for grant funding of up to $500,000 per year, for a total of $1.5 million over a three (3) fiscal year period, for repairs and renovations to the historic Edison Estate.

On that date, the Board of County Commissioners requested the execution of an Addendum by the City which provides additional assurances that future estate revenues will not be used for any other unrelated City purpose. This request was accomplished with the execution of the first amendment to the Interlocal Agreement on January 6, 2004.

The second amendment will allow the City to (1) receive up to $1,000,000 during the current fiscal year (FY 2003-04) and the remaining $500,000 during fiscal year 2004-05, and (2) request reimbursement for authorized work that was incurred prior to the effective date of the Interlocal Agreement. This amendment will allow the City of Fort Myers to take full advantage of matching grant funds being made available from other sources.

Pine Island - Scheduled an item for the Board's Aug. 2 Management & Planning Workshop Agenda (1: 30 p.m. in Commission Chambers) to discuss transportation concurrency issues on Pine Island Road as they relate to development on Pine Island.