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Residents press board on transparency, debt and teacher pay amid budget discussion
Summary
Public commenters at the July 29 hearing urged the board to delay a tax increase vote, improve transparency and address teacher pay and debt from capital projects.
Several members of the public used the July 29 public hearing to press the board on budget transparency, contractor overruns and teacher pay.
Patrick Finkler urged the board to delay approval of the millage increase and provide more time and documents for public review, saying transparency was insufficient for voters to evaluate the proposed tax increase. "I would ask you tonight at least to vote no on the millage increase until we have an opportunity to further look at the information," Finkler said.
Joyce Pollini (speaking for her husband) criticized the size of the proposed budget and urged board members to find cuts. A caller identified as Darius Tucker raised concerns about debt and project cost overruns, noting recent school projects reported tens of millions of dollars over budget and that the tentative budget is roughly $102,000,000 less than last year's figure (a figure noted aloud by a board member during the meeting).
Several speakers also raised teacher-pay concerns; one commenter said Lee County has among the lowest teacher salaries in Southwest Florida and warned that low pay contributes to turnover. Those remarks were offered as public comment; the board took no immediate personnel or salary action at the July 29 meeting.
