WOKC Local News – September 01, 2026, 7:40 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. The latest on school budget with WOKC News, I’m Charles Murphy. Okeechobee school boards had the tax millage at 5.341 mills this year, a decrease of .04 mills. Due to increases in the property tax base, the amount of local taxes collected would increase by just over 1.4 percent. The state does expect a slight decline in students of 22 students this year. Okeechobee High School’s budget is $10.6 million, Yearling $4.3 million, Osceola $4.9 million, while Transportation will cost us just over $3.2 million. Superintendent Dylan Tedder says all departments tightened the belts this year. We’re at a 5 percent reserve and that’s what the board policy is. The state requires 3, we’re at a 5 percent. We were able to balance our budget where we’ve had a historically we’ve always had expenses that have outpaced revenue. So we took a hard look this year at positions, at allocations, at those things because we had about an $8 million gap we had to close. A candlelight vigil tonight for International Overdose Awareness Day in Okeechobee. The theme, a time for reflection, praise and community. The vigil will take place at the Center for Arts and Education at 202 Northeast 2nd Street at 6 p.m. There will also be a dinner served. The St. Lucie County Fire Board opted not to reinstate five firefighters accused of hazing and being terminated. A modified bug zapper was allegedly used to administer electric shocks to new recruits in 2024. There was also a motion that failed to fire Fire Chief Jeff Lee. There was over an hour of public comment. County Commissioner James Clasby voted to fire the fire chief. He says there are some problems in administration. I do believe we have a retaliation issue here at the fire district. I’ve had a number of people come to me privately and say that they are afraid to come forward because they rely on their pension. They rely on this, that and the other. Fire administration has forced people to sign non-disclosure agreements, which I find completely unacceptable. They could discuss the situation again in September. Governor Ron DeSantis is supporting Amendment 3. He says rural governments will not have to worry because he’ll call a special session, if approved, where the state will guarantee payments to rural governments next year. He says no one will lose services due to Amendment 3. I’d hate for people to deprive themselves of a really significant tax break and more control over your own home because you think somehow they’re not going to have money to have a police force or something. A plane made an emergency landing on US-98 in Spring Lake yesterday. It happens at 98 near Haywood-Taylor Boulevard just after 10 a.m. A Cessna 172 made an emergency landing. The plane was flying from Fort Myers to Sebring when it developed engine trouble. An Ogozhui woman, Patricia Olivas, is facing charges of battery and robbery by sudden snatching and held in a $3,500 bond. She allegedly took the keys and a cell phone from the victim and also allegedly caused hand and bicep injuries. The victim claimed the woman had hit him with a stick. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).