WEEk Of AUGUST 2, 2023
VOLUME 61, NUMBER 37
School district begins to hone annual budget By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
Storm-damaged Bailey’s torn down with plans for rebuilding in pipeline By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
A
fter sustaining heavy damages in Hurricane Ian — and with a project in the works before the storm to renovate and redesign the plaza — the Bailey's Shopping Center on Sanibel was recently demolished. On July 21, work started on tearing down the entirety of the buildings at the center, excluding the historic service station, which has been preserved. It only took a couple of days to complete the task.
“We are working on the foundation and that is quite an intensive process,” fourth-generation owner and operator Calli Johnson said last week, noting that it will take about a month to remove the rubble piles. “We don't know if the parking lot is going to be taken up,” she added. “We're waiting to find that out.”
With newer projections provided to the School District of Lee County, its Finance Department was able to balance the tentative budget for 2023-24 that was set to have its first reading on July 31. Director of Budget Kelly Letcher said the district received its second budget calculation, which puts the district at $2,444,171,374, which includes $1,143,749,696 in the General Fund, or 47 percent of the budget, and $876,000,000 in the capital, 36 percent of the budget. “Over the last multiple years our numbers have grown,” she said of student growth. The preliminary numbers are 104,000 students, a 4.391 percent increase, which includes 88,000 students in district schools or Lee Virtual School, 12,000 students in charter schools and 3,000 students utilizing scholarships. Chief Financial Officer Dr. Ami Desamours said the fourth calculation for See BUDGET, page 19
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See BAILEY’S, page 18 The Bailey's Shopping Center on Sanibel in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. BAILEY'S GENERAL STORE
Sanibel library board sets tentative millage rate, more By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The Sanibel Public Library District's board approved the not-to-exceed millage rate for fiscal year 2023-24 at its meeting, as well as filled an open seat and heard the executive director is retiring. On July 27, the district's Board of Commissioners voted unanimously 6-0 to adopt a tentative millage rate of 0.6260 mills, which equals to a 50.84% increase over the current year's rate of 0.4150 mills. The millage rate can be lowered during the upcoming budget process but not raised. Chair Nicole McHale explained that until the board has a better idea of the upcoming year's budget, including insurance reimbursements from the hurricane, starting out
high would likely be better. “We can always come down,” she said. Treasurer Sandra Zahorchak agreed, pointing out that the district has a long track record of being conservative in its budgeting, but there were some unknowns that remained as of the meeting. “I think we would be irresponsible to start with anything lower,” she said. “I'm comfortable with that for now.” Vice Chair Linda Uhler added that the Sanibel Public Library Foundation has voiced interest in assisting with funding, plus funds could be reallocated from some projects not anticipated to occur. The board also set its budget hearings, with the first taking place on Sept. 5 at 5:01 p.m.
Also during the meeting, the board held another election to try to fill a vacated seat. The application process first opened in April because former Commissioner Barbara Ruben had moved off island and thus could no longer serve. The appointee would fill the remainder of her term to 2024. At April's meeting, the board appointed Laura Gales — one of six candidates to apply — in a majority vote. However, unforeseen circumstances later prevented her from being able to accept the position. The board reopened the process, but the May vote resulted in a four-way tie and no appointment. Last week, five candidates were up for consideration — Leslie Cimino, Matthew See LIBRARY BOARD, page 20
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