Lee County School Board rejects motion for budget-shift referendum
Superintendent argues idea wasn´t feasible

news-press.com staff
May 20, 2008

Lee County School Board member Bob Chilmonik made a motion at a special meeting Monday to direct Superintendent James Browder to put a referendum on a ballot in August to shift money from one fund to another to deal with an impending $29 million shortfall.

Chilmonik´s motion called for decreasing the tax rate for money that goes to the capital fund, which pay for construction, for example, but to increase the tax rate for operating funds without increasing property taxes earmarked for schools.

The motion failed for lack of a second. Browder said the motion wasn´t feasible.

In other business, the board approved the transfer of Leona Lynn Herrell, principal at Veterans Park Elementary for the Arts in Lehigh Acres, to principal at Bayshore Elementary in North Fort Myers, effective July 1, and the transfer of Brian Botts, assistant principal at East Lee County High in Lehigh to principal at Fort Myers Middle Academy, effective today.