By Chad Gillis
Naples Daily News
PALMS PARK, Fla. — City of Palms Park, emergency medical positions, mental health and substance abuse dollars, and even the county’s back-up rescue helicopter may face the axe this year.
Drastic budget cuts are being proposed as Lee County Commissioners struggle to provide critical services while operating with the least amount of money they’ve had since 2004.
Next year’s proposed budget is $357 million, and commissioners are expected to approve the finalized version next month.
Although many of the cuts looked good in theory, nearly every commissioner was against some of the measures.
Public safety is looking at cutting two helicopter pilot positions and four paramedic positions, reducing helicopter daily operation hours from 24 to 12 and selling emergency management’s only back-up helicopter for island rescues.
Commissioner Brian Bigelow said he doesn’t feel comfortable cutting helicopter rescue hours in half.
“So we would just put them on notice on the islands not to have a heart attack during that 12-hour time period,” Bigelow asked rhetorically. “This is just shocking.”
Commissioner Frank Mann said the county helicopter rescue services were adequate when the county only had one operational helicopter a few years ago after.
“Even if it sits all year, it’s very expensive to maintain a helicopter,” Mann said. “And it’s hard to keep a second one when we’ve gotten by for a year with just one.”
Mental health and substance abuse funding will be cut 5 percent to 10 percent or more, said Human Services Director Ann Arnall.
Commissioner Ray Judah said less funding for mental health and substance abuse often translates into increased costs in law enforcement. He said the county would simply be shifting costs.
“We’re balancing the budget on the backs of people who need help most,” Judah said. “I’m not supporting any of what I see here.”
Closing or partially closing several county park facilities is also being considered.
Barbara Manzo, director of county parks and recreation, said City of Palms Park, Caloosahatchee Regional Park and Manatee Park could be cut or at least altered.
Closing City of Palms would save the county $500,000 year. The National Swimming Center Corporation has expressed interest in taking over City of Palms and turning it into a five-pool swim center.
Caloosahatchee Regional Park has been leased from the state and maintained by the county at a cost of $250,000 a year. Manzo said closing Manatee Park during the offseason would save about $65,000.
“We get about 150,000 people annually, and most of those come over a five-month period,” she said. “The rest of the year we see low usage.”
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