While post-graduates will see benefits, Polk County's current crop of elementary and high school students won't see much in the way of new money, school board President Robert S. Macey said. Lottery allocations have dropped consistently over the past several years, East Polk school board member Jim Nelson said. Polk County still suffers from its rural character in state funding formulas, Nelson said. From the perspective of Bok Tower Gardens President Robert Sullivan , FY 2001 is a very good year, which he hopes can be followed by another in FY 2002. Boosters want to complete the project by the 2004 diamond jubilee, he said.
Work includes removing and cleaning calcium-stained stonework while the steel framing is repaired.
The tower's mortar joints are to be tightened to keep out moisture that required the attraction's most extensive restoration, the first in 20 years. The attraction brings about 165,000 visitors to the Ridge annually. Only the fund's interest can actually be used for operations, Sullivan said. Recreation funding was in no short supply. Local attractions from the Explorations V Children's Museum to the Frostproof Sports Complex received pork appropriations.