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Council approves second FY2026 budget amendment, adding $11.3 million
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Summary
The council voted unanimously to adopt the second amendment to the fiscal 2026 budget, a $11,323,646 increase that incorporates grant awards, the residential rental registration program, and personnel reclassifications; staff demonstrated how residents can track transactions through the city's Open Finance portal.
Cape Coral City Council unanimously approved Ordinance 18‑26 on April 15, adopting the second amendment to the fiscal year 2026 budget and increasing revenues and expenditures by $11,323,646 (about 0.76% of the amended budget).
Finance Director Crystal Feese told the council the amendment incorporates previously approved council items, revised revenue estimates and capital reconciliations, and personnel changes. ‘‘Since January, the council approved or accepted about 6 and a half million dollars in grant awards,’’ Feese said, citing $6,000,000 in state appropriations for the Northeast Reservoir among the items added. The amendment also formally recognizes $2,250,000 related to the city's new residential rental registration program, which includes funding for four additional positions.
Feese demonstrated the city’s Open Finance portal to show residents how to track fees and expenditures in real time. The portal indicated the rental registration fund had collected $682,115 as of the night before the meeting; Feese said expenditures had not yet been posted because the budget for the program was being created and that, once the ordinance was adopted, payroll and program spending would begin.
Council members asked clarifying questions about the timing and use of funds. One council member asked whether state appropriations coming later could be used to reimburse current expenditures; staff said the city expects to seek reimbursement if state grant rules allow it and that finance would coordinate any adjustments. The amendment also included $643,000 reallocation from the CRA operating fund to capital projects and several smaller transfers and use‑of‑fund‑balance items.
After staff responses and a brief period for public comment, the council adopted the ordinance by roll call (8–0). Feese told the audience the Open Finance module provides searchable transaction records by fund, vendor and year so residents can trace how dollars are spent.
With adoption, staff may begin incurring program expenditures under the newly appropriated budgets; council members said they would continue oversight of major grants and appropriation items.
Vote: Ordinance 18‑26 — approved unanimously, 8–0.
