CAPE CORAL, Fla., -- Lee County residents will pay a six and a half sales tax if voters approve the School Board's plan come November. The Board held a webinar to explain their reasoning on Facebook.
“Fifteen hundred to 2000 students [are added] every single year," said Superintendent Gregory K. Adkins. "We’re doing that with less funding than just about any other state in the nation.”
Lee County School Board member Steven Teuber says raising taxes is the absolute last thing he wants to do, but he says in order to deal with some of the bus issues the board has no other choice.
"We have busses that we should be replacing every 7 to 10 years, instead we are replacing them every 15 to 20 years, " explained Teuber. "We have a bus on the road with kids in it, it breaks down."
A Challenger middle school bus caught on fire with kids inside due to electrical issues just a couple weeks ago.
It's more money, school board member Chris Patricia, says is need for better resources.
"We have asked for money to build schools. The state each year has said 'no' we are not going to give you that money," she said.
Rep. Matt Caldwell says money isn't the issue:
"We really think, this isn't a revenue problem, this is a spending problem.”
The webinar was the last in a series of meetings to educate voters. The other three were held in different areas of the county.
The proposal will be on the voting ballot on November 6th.
