The sky’s the limit
To the editor:
Recent events in Cape Coral has shown its citizens outraged about tax increases and high utility assessments. City Council meetings even have had to have extra security to deal with the anger. But the elected officials of Cape Coral are not the only elected officials forgetting who they represent.
Lee County School Board members have shown the same tendencies. A recent meeting illustrated the point.
Superintendent Browder who receives a high six-figure salary, extra money from double dipping from the DROP retirement program, a golden $342,000 golden parachute also gets a $900 a month car allowance to meet travel needs. When confronted with the fact he was double dipping by using district vehicles instead of his own he admitted to it and even admitted to getting extra money for gassing up the vehicles. To justify the double dipping with this perk he claimed he was “saving the district money by doing so!” This was supported by Board Member Jeannie Dozier who could see no wrong in this extravagance. All this in light of the board’s recent tax increase which was justified to meet children’s needs. The only dissent came from Board Member Robert Chilmonik who speaks for the public.
To make matters worse the board supported the cutting of a full time position for a coordinator of the Cape Coral’s High School IB program to a half position to save money, although a similar position in Fort Myers HS was full time. This was supported by Board Member Jane Kuckel who declared this was data driven. When it comes to children’s needs these members are frugal. When it comes to enriching a greedy superintendent the sky is the limit. Teachers and substitute teachers of course are left to the crumbs on the table.
Is it time for a local tea party to deal with out-of-touch local elected officials? When do taxpayers run out of patience? All this at a time called a recession but could easily be termed the second great depression.
John E. Traube
Cape Coral