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BOOK 21 PAGE 497 <br />Mr. John Daniel, Chairman of the Lee County Economic Development <br />Corporation spoke in favor of the proposed project. <br />Mr. Kirk Smith, 3108 Avents Ferry Road, Sanford, spoke in opposition to <br />the proposed project. Mr. Smith stated it was not the County's responsibility to <br />support businesses and the Commissioners did not need to give taxpayers <br />money away. <br />Chairman Brown closed the public hearing. <br />Commissioner Reives moved to approve a Resolution Authorizing the <br />Expenditure of Funds for an Economic Development Project and Approving an <br />Agreement with the Lee County Economic Development Corporation, a copy of <br />which is attached, and by this reference made a part hereof. Upon a vote, the <br />results were as follows: <br />Aye: Brown, Kelly, Lemmond, Paschal, Reives, and Stevens <br />Nay: Shook <br />The Chairman ruled the motion had been adopted by a six to one vote. <br />No one present signed up to speak during the Public Comments section of <br />the meeting. <br />The Board heard a presentation from Mr. Frank Thompson, Vice- <br />Chairman of the Lee County Board of Education in reference to their FY 2007-08 <br />budget request. No figure requests were presented; however, Mr. Thompson <br />addressed the following issues and concerns: <br />• Lee County ranks 37 out of 115 school units in the County <br />appropriation per pupil amount. Lee County's per pupil <br />appropriation is $1,333 compared with the state average of $1,477; <br />• Fines and Forfeitures are running well below receipts as compared <br />to the same time last year. This potential revenue shortfall is of <br />concern for the current year's budget; <br />• Salaries are estimated to increase between 5-8% and retirement <br />contributions by 1 <br />• Anticipated 15% increase in health insurance costs; <br />• Required to hire two additional School Resource Officers as part of <br />a grant received from the Department of Justice; <br />• Teacher turnover rate is 18% as compared to a state average of <br />12.58%; <br />• Recent lose of staff in the finance department who went to <br />neighboring counties for more money; <br />3 <br />