WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 4, 2024
VOLUME 62, NUMBER 42
City council reviews budget, millage rates By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
Last week, the Sanibel City Council directed staff to prepare and present the 2024-25 draft budget using both the maximum millage rate and rolled-back millage rate for the first budget hearing. At a July meeting, the council voted unanimously 5-0 to approve the not-toexceed millage rate at 2.500 mills — the same rate as the current fiscal year. The rolled-back millage rate, which is the rate needed to raise the same amount of ad valorem revenue that was raised in 202324, is 2.4848 mills. The millage rate can be lowered during the budget process but not raised. During its second budget workshop on Aug. 27, the council voiced differing opinions on whether to proceed with the 2.500 or have staff present the draft budget at the first hearing using the 2.4848. Councilmember John Henshaw reported that he would like to see the budget presented at the hearing using the rolledback 2.4848 as a signal to citizens that See CITY COUNCIL, page 19
IslanderInsIde
New marine life, exhibits on view at shell museum
T
he Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium on Sanibel introduced hundreds of marine animals to public exhibit when it reopened with its restored Living Gallery of Aquariums in March. The museum reported that while many of the
original popular species are still on view, several Flamingo tongue new species have been added. Some of the new species available to view include: BAILEYMATTHEWS ∫ Flamingo tongue: The western Atlantic mollusk has striking orange and yellow spots on its NATIONAL SHELL See SHELL MUSEUM, page 18
MUSEUM & AQUARIUM
Study: District employee compensation is below goal By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
A compensation study for the School District of Lee County will help in TALC negotiations this year. The study, which began in November, looked at the employee database, salary schedule, job descriptions, organizational chart, personnel policies, and procedures. Evergreen Project Manager Stasey Whichel said the best practice for school districts is typically between 40% to 60%.
The administration range is 18%, N schedule is 60% and SPALC averages 44%. For salary distribution, Whichel said 72% are below the midpoint to current range. “That is a significant level of employees below midpoint,” she said. For the market rate employees, 34% are paid at the rate slightly different from the set market rate. For grade progression — the distance between pay grades — it sits at 7% for most areas.
The top three issues based on employee feedback were competitive pay with market peers, adjusting compensation/pay to account for the local cost of living and accurately aligning pay with the district according to job functions. The market survey collected data from 16 peers — school districts, counties, and cities. The survey used 196 classifications as benchmarks, which provided about 1,000 data points. The market comparison at the 50th percentile revealed: See STUDY, page 19
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