Lee County officials warn general-fund CIP will run short as county prioritizes EMS stations and medical examiner expansion

Lee County County Manager Dave Horner told the Board of County Commissioners on May 21 that the draft five-year capital improvement plan and major maintenance schedules are still in draft form but show mounting funding pressure on the county's general fund CIP. "These are draft schedules," Horner said, and he warned the general fund CIP is not a stable, continuing source of capital funding and is projected to go negative in fiscal year 2025-26 without additional capital injections or grant revenue.

Horner said growth projects predominate the plan and highlighted several high-cost items: about $21 million for four new EMS stations to meet demand, a significant life-extension project for a 30-year-old waste-to-energy facility, and a medical examiner expansion that creates a large "blip" in major maintenance spending in fiscal year 2026–27. On transportation, Horner said the county faces roughly $1.2 billion of mid-term projects with about $40 million funded now and an addition of roughly $40 million per year from current sources; on a pay-as-you-go basis that pace would stretch funding over about 30 years.

Horner also listed recurring capital demands that draw on reserves: historical sheriff requests of about $10 million a year (also referenced elsewhere in the presentation as roughly $8.7 million a year), remaining debt service on radios (about $1.4 million), and equipment for the supervisor of elections, including vote-by-mail and precinct tabulators. He said some enterprise projects (utilities, solid waste, toll bridges) are funded from user fees, low-interest loans, bonds and grants, but projects funded from excess general fund reserves and grants face pinch points as reserves dwindle.

The presentation led commissioners to identify near-term follow-ups: pursue state and federal grant funding, include the medical examiner expansion and EMS stations on the county's legislative request, and seek participation from neighboring counties (Hendry and Glades) on multi-county facility costs. Horner said the county has received one prior state appropriation for the medical examiner facility and that a second appropriation had been vetoed.

Next steps: staff will return with more detailed financing options, grant strategies and a June 18 update on the operating continuation budget; the board also set a July 30 meeting to set the maximum millage rate.