FORT MYERS, Fla. — UPDATE 7:49 PM Fort Myers City Council approves the budget as is in today's meeting with city leaders.
More than two dozen non-profits in Southwest Florida are hoping to prevent city council members from taking away money from their organizations.
The City of Fort Myers usually gives more than $300,000 total to 26 organizations. But next year, all the money is going to the Stars Complex.
We've spoken with several non-profits over the last few days. One we spoke with Friday says that while Stars is important, it's not the end-all-be-all for the community. “Every year we have an event called the Prevention Power Event, which is actually held at the Stars Complex. And so that will have an impact on that, trying to bring awareness to human trafficking prevention in our area. I think it’s important to understand that the Stars Complex is an asset in our community, but these non-profit organizations are boots on the ground, and I think that it’s important to recognize that they’re just as important as the Stars Complex and the work that we're doing.”
The non-profits plan to band together for Monday's city budget hearing. They ask anyone who supports them to show up, and demand some changes.
The meeting starts at 5 p.m. Monday at the city council chambers on Second Street.
