(Editor's note: Some of the statistics listed in the op-ed do not agree with what Lee County reports in its amended budgets. The county's numbers will be listed in parenthesis with the League of Women Voters information for comparison).
The League of Women Voters of Lee County Florida (LWVLCF) applauds the generous and concerned Lee County residents who raise millions of dollars and volunteer countless hours to provide basic human services.
The league expects informed voters to make the right choice for Lee County’s children as they made the right choice for the environment with 83.71% approval of the Conservation 20/20 grassroots and successful citizens' initiative.
The league supports programs and policies that prevent or reduce poverty and promote self-sufficiency. Lee County needs responsible government to solve economic and social issues. Lee County deserves leadership and coordination of targeted, structured, accountable programs for children and families.
Effective prevention and intervention are proven to strengthen families and communities, ensure children are healthy, safe, prepared to learn, and to have viable life choices. Human services programs reduce costs for law enforcement, health services, and welfare. Evidence based research shows that investment in children has a return of $7 for every $1 spent.
Lee County issues include:
• 1 in 4 Lee children live in poverty.
• More than half of the households in 8 of 28 communities are struggling to afford basic needs, according to a United Way report.
• Less than a third of Lee County Children are ready for Kindergarten. Hundreds are on waiting lists for early learning programs.
• Increasing infant mortality; 6.4 per 1,000 rate is higher than Florida and the U.S. Teen birthrates are higher than Florida and the U.S.
• Teen violent death rates are 8 per 10,000 compared 3 per 10,000 in Florida.
The League asks the Lee County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to:
Put a referendum for a Lee County Children’s Services Council (CSC) on the November 2018 ballot. Commissioners in other Florida counties have let voters decide.
CSCs are an effective, proven way to generate resources and to coordinate critical services. CSCs, by law, have a high level of accountability to the County Commission and to taxpayers. CSCs successfully invest in Early Learning, After School Programs, Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Children’s Mental Health and Substance Abuse, and Crime Prevention. Funding of a Lee County CSC would cost most taxpayers less than $100 per year.
Increase Lee County’s budget for effective, evidence proven Human Services. While Lee County grows and prospers, many are being left behind. In the last 20 years, Lee County’s population has grown about 70%, while Lee County’s funding for essential human services has not kept pace. Lee County’s budget for human services for fiscal year 2017-18 is $20,850,484 (the county says its human services budget is $23 million and once grants and aid are added, the amended budget will be approximately $33 million). The actual expenditure in fiscal year 1997-98 was $26,162,194 (the county reported an amended budget of $25,162,194). Lee County spends less for human services than the Florida average of $161.
Develop and implement a comprehensive Lee County Human Services strategic plan. The last strategic plan was in 2005. The BOCC at a May 2016 Workshop on Children’s Services asked staff to research programs and needs, and to make recommendations. Results and plans, if any, have not been disclosed to the public.
Reactivate the Community Human Services Council (CHSC) to its original purpose to assure a countywide strategic plan, service coordination, resource planning, strengthening of private and public partnerships, etc. for the efficient delivery of community health and human services with measurable outcomes.
Fully collect impact fees and to implement a waiver and/or sliding scale of impact fees for low income families.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, go to www.lwvlee.org