Funds for owl habitat is not tax dollars
To the editor:
In The Breeze a couple of issues ago someone wrote in that he was protesting the $900,000 to buy burrowing owl lots, insinuating that the city was paying taxes dollars to buy the lots.
This is far from the truth.
The $900,000 is a tax-fee grant that comes from money that builders have to pay for destroying a burrow. This approximately $450 mitigation fee goes back to the Florida Fish and Game Commission. Over the years, this mitigation money has multiplied to a million and a half dollars. Over 90% of that fund comes from Cape Coral. So it’s fitting that Cape Coral gets this money back for our burrowing owls.
As you can plainly see, this is not tax money from the city.
The city is in the process of buying its first five lots.
Cape Coral Wildlife Trust has bought 77 lots and is buying even more.
If you would like to donate, please go to either CCFRIENDSOFWILDLIFE.org or Capecoralwildlifetrust.org. You can also Adopt an Owl on the page to donate or become a member. We are always looking for new members.
Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife would never use tax money to buy owl lots.
Carl Veaux
Cape Coral