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Cape Coral council adopts $24 million budget amendment to record recent actions and grants
Summary
City council approved Ordinance 13-25, a $24,029,526 amendment that incorporates previously approved items, new revenues and five personnel changes into the fiscal 2025 budget.
The Cape Coral City Council approved a $24,029,526 amendment to the city's fiscal year 2025 budget on April 16, 2025, moving the amended operating and capital totals to $1,155,112,057.
City Acting Financial Services Director Crystal Feast told council the amendment combines items the council had approved by resolution since December 2024 with revenue adjustments and personnel actions that must be recorded in ordinance form to comply with Florida law. "This summary provides you with the original adopted budget, the amendment that was previously approved, and tonight's budget amendment being proposed," Feast said during her presentation.
The amendment recognizes about $6 million in previously approved items and $18 million of other adjustments, including a $5.6 million upward adjustment to the Solid Waste Management Fund's revenue estimate and a $7 million FEMA-related adjustment tied to Hurricane Milton reimbursements. Feast said the largest single previously approved item added to the budget is $1.8 million for demolition work at Bimini East.
A portion of the amendment also captures personnel updates: five new positions (a custodian, two project managers, a code compliance officer and a business services manager) and one reclassification of a fire division chief to fire marshal. Feast told council the cost of those personnel changes will be absorbed by current personnel savings.
A resident who spoke during public comment urged the council to pause noncritical spending; the speaker characterized some projects as "vanity" and warned of rising debt. The council majority, however, emphasized that the ordinance is required by Florida statute to record the changes and that many entries are revenue recognitions rather than new spending. Councilmember Long noted the council has not raised the millage rate during his tenure, and Councilmember Steinke stressed that amendments reflect both revenues and expenditures and are used to maintain a balanced budget.
The measure passed 8-0. Councilmembers who spoke said the amendment mainly "trues up" budget entries for previously approved actions and incoming grant reimbursements and that details will be available in the city's online budget portal within 24 hours.
The council will continue to monitor revenues and the capital program as federal reimbursements and other grant awards are finalized.
