Lee County Commissioners passed a budget closing the county’s $30 million operating deficit Wednesday night.
Many residents turned up for the final budget hearing to speak out against how commissioners closed the deficit.
By raiding funds used for maintaining and acquiring conservation lands in Lee County, commissioners were able to spare a host of charities and public services from deep cuts this year.
About $26 million were taken out of Conservation 20/20, which is a tax levy created by a citizen referendum in 1996.
Brad Cornell with Audubon Florida said he’s concerned that tax money won’t go back into conservation in the future.
“We understand why they are doing it,” he said. “We hear the pleas of all the other programs and we are sympathetic to that. But they need to restore that funding to full funding the following year. We’ve got to see that commitment.”
Despite numerous statements from residents opposed to using the funds, commissioners reluctantly voted to move the funds out of Conservation 20/20 by a four-to-one vote.
The biggest cut came from the Cooperative Extensive Service, which lost $250,000 and two positions.
By diverting the Conservation 20/20 funds, Lee County will have a general fund surplus of about $1.5 million for the fiscal year starting next month.
