What's Happening in Cape Coral, FL…

May might be near the end of the school year, but that's the month when residents of Cape Coral and the rest of Lee County will have the opportunity to vote on an issue that will affect the Lee County School District going forward.

The schoolboard voted at the end of January in favor of a special election on May 15. The election will decide the fate of the district's half cent sales tax plan. Money raised by the slight increase in sales tax would go towards capital projects at area schools.

School districts and schoolboards asking residents to consider a major change can use brochure printing to outline the pros and cons of the decision.

So far, residents seem to be mixed when it comes to opinions on the sales tax increase. Some called the tax regressive, noting that it will put a strain on older residents and others in the county.

Some were also concerned about the cost of holding a special election for the vote, rather than adding the question to the ballot during a primary or general election. It's estimated that the special election will cost $887,500.

If the residents do vote for the half cent tax plan, it would bring in around $59m per year, which would be used for technology equipment, school buses and maintenance as the schools. The plan is estimated to cost the average household between $50 and $58 annually.