User Fees for public library Computers

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/sep/30/collier-county-library-fee-nonresidents-computer/

http://public.collier-lib.org/news/?p=461

http://library.lee-county.com/services/aboutlcls/documents/other/Techplan2009-2013.pdf

The Collier County Public Library system will begin charging people who aren’t county residents a fee to use the computers located in all of the county’s public libraries.

The fee that goes into effect Friday is $5 for a one-time, 30-minute pass or $10 for a 30-day, 90-minute per day pass.

Government Fees Hinder Construction

http://www3.leegov.com/dcd/BuildingServices/BuildingServicesMain.htm#permitting

http://lehighacrescitizen.com/page/content.detail/id/510508/index.html?nav=5100&pollvote=1#poll123

A Lehigh Acres developer and builder of a gated community off of Richmond Ave. is upset about what he calls the high cost of obtaining a building permit for a house in Lee County.

FL Open Government Watch

When public agencies comply with FS 119,  FL Open Government Watch wants to recognize and encourage such behavior.
If a public agency fails to provide access to non-exempt records, they will take the necessary actions to correct the violation.

County spent $37,475 entertaining journalists and tourism vendors

http://www.leevcb.com/content/statistics

http://www.nbc-2.com/Global/story.asp?S=12500994

.. digging through county credit card expenses, we found Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau spent $37,475 wining and dining journalists and tourism vendors over the past two years.

School District will spend $218,224 to extend free breakfast to all students

http://nutrition.leeschools.net/

http://www.news-press.com/article/20100519/NEWS0104/100518082/All-Lee-County-students-will-get-breakfast

All children in Lee County will receive a free breakfast at school next year, even if their families exceed income restrictions.

The announcement trumps a new state law that requires public schools where at least 80 percent of children qualify for free or reduced-price meals to distribute breakfast at no charge to any child.

County spends $41,000 to redo a football field

http://www.fox4now.com/Global/story.asp?S=12504004

A Lee County man contacted Four in Your Corner, wanting to know why the County seems to be wasting taxpayer dollars.

He says the county ripped up a football field, just to plant more grass. He showed it to us at Rutenberg Community Park.

County Housing Authority report fiscal mismanagement, disorganization and nepotism

http://leecountyhousingauthority.org/

March site visit notes:   http://www.news-press.com/assets/pdf/A4157764514.PDF

http://www.news-press.com/article/20100516/NEWS01/5160367/1075/Lee-County-Housing-Authority-under-fire

A scathing federal report has found widespread fiscal mismanagement, disorganization and nepotism at the Lee County Housing Authority.

$80,000 tax money spent for gifts to local government employees

http://www.nbc-2.com/Global/story.asp?S=12471479

NBC2 Investigators found municipalities spending more than $80,000 on gifts for their employees.

Parks and Recreation $53 million and 1,100 acres

http://www.leeparks.org/

http://www.leeparks.org/pdf/cba/Cost-Benefit-Analysis-FY-2009.pdf

http://www.news-press.com/article/20100514/NEWS01/100513061/Lee-wraps-up-10-year-park-%E2%80%98building-frenzy

A handful of projects are set for completion this year, capping the largest parks and recreation expansion in Lee County’s history. In the past 10 years, the county has used more than $53 million in fees to help expand and renovate more than 1,100 acres of parkland and recreation facilities.

Sales tax receipts take massive dive

http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/taxes/colls_from_7_2003.html

http://www.news-press.com/article/20100509/BUSINESS/100508044/Sales-tax-receipts-in-Lee-County-take-massive-dive

By Tim Engstrom — tengstrom@news-press.com — May 9, 2010

Despite a surprise or two, a review of more than five years of sales tax receipts from the Florida Department of Revenue makes one thing painfully clear: Lee County businesses face a process of digging themselves out of a cavernous financial hole.

The state collected $540.4 million in sales tax in Lee in 2009, down a 32 percent from the $794.9 million collected in 2006, the recent peak.