Blue Ribbon Panel Report

A special Blue Ribbon Panel, composed of six leaders in the Lehigh Acres community headed by Rick Anglickis of the Community Council prepard a budget for the Lehgh Acres Fire and Resque District last month.

It calls for the lay off of fewer fighterters rather than what the department is considering. Lehigh is facing financial problems in the fire department because of the lack of revenue coming in as ad valorem tax due to the deevaluation of homes by the Lee County Property Appraiser.

This budget was presented to the commissioners and Chief Don Adams and his staff on July 19.

It could come up for discussion on Aug. 6 when a special meeting is planned for 4 p.m. at the East County Regional Library on Gunnery Rd. Officials said the board can vote at a special meeting, but not a5t a budget workshop.

The board must strike a budget by the end of September, according to state statute. Last month, the board voted for a resolution to ask the Supervisor of Elections of Lee County to hold a special election to ask voters to accept a $100 a parcel special assessment tax. If there is an election, it would not be until December and the money it may raise would not be available for another year.

The board could change its mind Thursday afternoon and rescind the resolution and look for other ways to balance the budget. In the end, the chief’s responsibility is to hire and fire in the department.

The unions have given some concessions but union chiefs could give more at Thursday’s meeting. The idea to form such a blue ribbon panel came out of the Lehigh Acres Community Council. Members also came out of the Lehigh Acres Chamber or Commerce.

The attached Blue Panel Budget is attached to this story.