Coolest afternoon of this Winter for your Tuesday plansDeadline arrives for FEMA hurricane assistance in Florida
the weather authority Coolest afternoon of this Winter for your Tuesday plans The Weather Authority is tracking the coolest afternoon of this Winter season as a cold front travels through the Southwest Florida area.
Deadline arrives for FEMA hurricane assistance in Florida The application deadline has arrived for those affected by the 2024 hurricane season to apply for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
PORT CHARLOTTE Caught on Camera: Charlotte County deputy SUV rolls over A Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office vehicle was seen rolling over on a road in Port Charlotte.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers leaders combat low water pressure with 11 new wells On Monday afternoon, WINK News learned why the city limited the amount of water coming out of your faucet.
Park Shore Beach undergoes restoration after hurricanes and erosion A multi-million dollar beach renourishment project is underway in Collier County.
Collier County woman in critical condition after bike hit-and-run A woman is in critical condition after a car hit her while riding a bike on Weber Boulevard in Collier County.
Possible drones spotted in Englewood Neighbors in Englewood, North Port, and Venice are puzzled about what could be in the sky. Some say it’s two planes close to each other. Others say it’s drones.
ESTERO Everblades’ Logan Lambdin works on post-hockey life as a realtor Florida Everblades forward Logan Lambdin works as a realtor away for the ice as a way to prepare for his post-hockey life.
FORT MYERS BEACH Addressing traffic headaches on Fort Myers Beach Fort Myers Beach traffic causes a big annoyance for many beachgoers. The Matanzas pass the bridge to get onto the island and can be backed up, eating into that beach relaxation time.
LEHIGH ACRES Lehigh Acres roads covered in graffiti and broken glass If you travel to Lehigh Acres, some of the streets aren’t clean. You might notice paint splattering the roads and vandals behind the mess. It’s not just paint but broken glass, too.
FORT MYERS City of Fort Myers spends millions to improve digital infrastructure The City of Fort Myers is spending nearly $8 million to improve its digital infrastructure.
FORT MYERS Wade Wilson’s automatic death penalty appeal begins The man convicted and sentenced to death for the killing of two Cape Coral women has begun his first of many appeals to the death sentence he got last year.
Photo shows SWFL teens hit in New Orleans terrorist attack reunited in hospital The grandfather of one of the teens struck by a truck in a New Orleans terrorist attack has released a picture of the teens sharing an emotional moment in the hospital.
FORT MYERS Goodbye mocking bird, hello flamingo? A bill to change the official state bird has been filed in the Florida House of Representatives.
Charlotte County projects $362M cost from Hurricane Ian As Charlotte County officials await cost estimates from the impacts of 2024 hurricanes Helene and Milton, the county is already reeling from the $362,021,150 cost of Hurricane Ian in 2022.
the weather authority Coolest afternoon of this Winter for your Tuesday plans The Weather Authority is tracking the coolest afternoon of this Winter season as a cold front travels through the Southwest Florida area.
Deadline arrives for FEMA hurricane assistance in Florida The application deadline has arrived for those affected by the 2024 hurricane season to apply for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
PORT CHARLOTTE Caught on Camera: Charlotte County deputy SUV rolls over A Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office vehicle was seen rolling over on a road in Port Charlotte.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers leaders combat low water pressure with 11 new wells On Monday afternoon, WINK News learned why the city limited the amount of water coming out of your faucet.
Park Shore Beach undergoes restoration after hurricanes and erosion A multi-million dollar beach renourishment project is underway in Collier County.
Collier County woman in critical condition after bike hit-and-run A woman is in critical condition after a car hit her while riding a bike on Weber Boulevard in Collier County.
Possible drones spotted in Englewood Neighbors in Englewood, North Port, and Venice are puzzled about what could be in the sky. Some say it’s two planes close to each other. Others say it’s drones.
ESTERO Everblades’ Logan Lambdin works on post-hockey life as a realtor Florida Everblades forward Logan Lambdin works as a realtor away for the ice as a way to prepare for his post-hockey life.
FORT MYERS BEACH Addressing traffic headaches on Fort Myers Beach Fort Myers Beach traffic causes a big annoyance for many beachgoers. The Matanzas pass the bridge to get onto the island and can be backed up, eating into that beach relaxation time.
LEHIGH ACRES Lehigh Acres roads covered in graffiti and broken glass If you travel to Lehigh Acres, some of the streets aren’t clean. You might notice paint splattering the roads and vandals behind the mess. It’s not just paint but broken glass, too.
FORT MYERS City of Fort Myers spends millions to improve digital infrastructure The City of Fort Myers is spending nearly $8 million to improve its digital infrastructure.
FORT MYERS Wade Wilson’s automatic death penalty appeal begins The man convicted and sentenced to death for the killing of two Cape Coral women has begun his first of many appeals to the death sentence he got last year.
Photo shows SWFL teens hit in New Orleans terrorist attack reunited in hospital The grandfather of one of the teens struck by a truck in a New Orleans terrorist attack has released a picture of the teens sharing an emotional moment in the hospital.
FORT MYERS Goodbye mocking bird, hello flamingo? A bill to change the official state bird has been filed in the Florida House of Representatives.
Charlotte County projects $362M cost from Hurricane Ian As Charlotte County officials await cost estimates from the impacts of 2024 hurricanes Helene and Milton, the county is already reeling from the $362,021,150 cost of Hurricane Ian in 2022.
One Lee County Commissioner wants to change how taxpayers view the Lee County Sheriff’s Office budget following a possible federal investigation and a grand jury meeting. Both situations have put the Sheriff’s Office budget in the crosshairs. Commissioner Brian Hamman’s proposing changes. RELATED: Lee County Commissioners discuss LCSO budget and Sheriff Marceno federal investigation Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman spoke to WINK News Reporter Olivia Jean to further explain his idea after bringing it up in the commissioner’s meeting this past Tuesday. “Whether you live in a city or whether you live in unincorporated Lee, you’re paying the countywide general fund, which funds the Sheriff’s Office. You just don’t get to see what it pays for. You don’t get to see how much of that money is going to the Sheriff’s Office unless you come to the budget hearing and get a copy of the budget and look at what’s what the money is being spent on,” Hamman said. He continued to say, “I’m proposing this because it would give you a chance to see how much money is going to law enforcement and how much money is being spent on the rest of the departments in the county in the general fund funds.” Other departments that benefit from the countywide general budget are parks and roads. Hamman said they have had to cut back on funds for other departments, because of the Sheriff’s Office budget. “I watched the sheriff’s budget grow, and I’ve watched us have to hold other county departments flat, or maybe even make cuts to other county departments to accommodate the growth in the Sheriff’s budget. And I felt like, you know, it’s really not fair to them,” Hamman said. Hamman’s idea is a new idea for Lee County, but not for other Florida counties. Just north of Lee County, Charlotte County breaks down its tax bills with a line item for law enforcement. If the idea goes through, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office would have it’s own line and dollar amount, just like you see with fire and library taxes. By separating the county general fund and the Sheriff’s Office budget, what you pay to the department will be more visible. Some question if this move is an added tax, Hamman assured it is not. “I’m looking to move the taxes for the law enforcement out of the general fund and then lower the general fund by that amount so that people aren’t paying new taxes. They’re just going to have more visibility to the taxes that they spend on law enforcement,” Hamman said. The county commission would still have to approve the budget before any taxpayers see numbers. This year’s Sheriff’s Office budget came in at $315 million dollars. Commissioners approved the budget in September but only see a broad breakdown, not individual expenses, making details on where the money is actually going limited. RELATED: Breaking down the Lee County Sheriff’s Office budget Once commissioners approve the budget, the Sheriff’s Office can do whatever they want with the money. They can even change their proportions even after Commissioners approve the budget. “Under state law, because the Sheriff is an elected constitutional officer, it’s actually within his discretion to change how the money is used, even after it’s been budgeted. So, people ask me all the time, how could you let this person put his name all over the cars, or buy TV studios or things like that. The truth is, commissioners never see those individual expenses. We do not approve the individual expenses,” Hamman said. Commissioners can only provide so much oversight. WINK News has reached out to LCSO about who holds the Sheriff’s Office accountable once the money gets put into their hands. We have yet to hear back from them. Instead, Commissioner Hamman answered. “It’s the voters. The voters hold the Sheriff accountable. They have to look at how the Sheriff uses his money, how the Sheriff keeps Lee County safe, and then make a determination on if they want to continue with that Sheriff,” Hamman said. He continued saying, “The Sheriff just won re-election. The voters like what’s happening, and that’s great, but I think giving them more information, allowing them to see that budget on its own line to see the taxes they pay to support that budget on its own line on their tax bill, is just going to give them more power to then hold the sheriff accountable. They’re his boss,” Hamman said. WINK News has placed nine records requests related to the $315 million dollar budget. The sheriff’s office has not fulfilled any of those requests yet. WINK News compared the Lee County Sheriff’s Office budget to comparable continues. Both Polk and Pinellas Counties are similar in population to Lee County. Pinellas has beaches and many tourists. Polk is more rural. It has spring training and a theme park. The Pinellas Sheriff’s Office budget is $457 million. Polk $215 million. Hamman’s idea for the LCSO budget moves to a strategic planning meeting that will take place in January. Hamman hopes county staff will undertake a study to see if it could work in Lee County.