Week oF AUGUST 7, 2024
CROW admits School board gives nod to laughing gulls with $2.7B budget partners’ assistance By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
By STAFF REPORT
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
With help from the Sanibel Police Department and Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife recently rescued and admitted two injured shorebirds. On July 31, CROW received a call from SCCF regarding an injured laughing gull on one of the beaches on Sanibel's west end. CROW reported that team members were dispatched for the rescue, and they coordinated efforts to locate and safely contain the bird for transport to the wildlife hospital. While the rescue was taking place, CROW received a call about another injured laughing gull, now at Bowman's Beach. After dropping off the first patient for examination, the team headed back out to safely retrieve the second bird. CROW reported that a Sanibel officer patrolling the beach on an ATV stopped to assist in the successful containment of the gull. “The officer met up with the CROW van to get the bird on the road to treatment,” it added. CROW thanked its community partners, the SCCF and SPD, for their assistance with the rescues. “Unlike human hospitals, CROW does not have the resources or manpower to operate rescues and 'animal ambulances' 24/7,” it reported. “The CROW team
The Lee County School Board approved a tentative budget of $2.7 billion for fiscal year 2024-25 on July 30 during the first of two public hearings. The board also approved a proposed millage rate of 5.286, local effort millage of 3.038, discretionary millage of .748 and capital outlay millage of 1.500. One mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of taxable assessed property valuation. The second and final public hearing is set for Sept 5. The budget supports more than 100,000 students and 120 schools. Budget Director Kelly Letcher said the roll back rate is 5.1549 mills and the proSee SCHooL BoARD, page 21
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See CRoW, page 21 The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife rescued and admitted two laughing gulls on July 31 with the assistance of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation and Sanibel Police Department. CLINIC FOR THE REHABILITATION OF WILDLIFE
Sanibel library board sets tentative millage rate By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The Sanibel Public Library District's board approved the not-to-exceed millage rate and budget hearings for fiscal year 2024-25 at its recent meeting, as well as discussed an upcoming vacancy. On July 25, the district's Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 to adopt a tentative operating millage rate of 0.5632 mills, which equals the rolledback rate and is less than the current year's rate of 0.5667. Secretary Susan Holly and
Commissioner Shelley Greggs abstained from the vote as they were attending the meeting virtually. Commissioner Roy Gibson was absent for the meeting. Prior to the vote, the board reviewed the preliminary budget figures for the new fiscal year. The millage rate can be lowered during the upcoming budget process but not raised. The budget hearings will be held on Sept. 12 and Sept. 24 at 5:01 p.m. Also during the meeting, the board
discussed the upcoming vacancy for Seat 7. Currently held by Gibson, no candidates qualified in June during the qualifying period to run for the seat in November's General Election. The seat is a two-year term, which will run from 2024-26. The board agreed to accept applications in September and make an appointment in October.
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