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FINAL Proposed Budget Book 2025
The budget presented to members of Cape Coral City Council today shows a proposed downtick in both overall total and the property tax rate while funding 22 new public safety positions, more sidewalks, additional miles of roadway paving and money for the purchase of the old golf course property.
As proposed by the city's administration, the working budget sits below $1 billion for fiscal year 2024-25, which begins Oct. 1.
There is a 10.18% decrease from the 2023 budget - from $1.095 billion to $984.1 million.
City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn developed the proposed budget using a millage rate of 5.3126 for general operations, a decrease from the 2023 budget of 5.3694. The budget proposes an allocation of more than $242 million to general operations, which includes police, parks, and transportation.
This budget calls for 66 new full-time positions - 29 funded through the city's general, or operations, fund.
A boost to public safety is among the areas the budget addresses with additions to the fire and police departments. There are fire station upgrades, additional staffing and emergency preparedness initiatives.
The boost for fire includes the North Cape Public Safety Complex, 10 fire department positions -- a new rescue unit and a hazmat unit staffing, fire station No. 5 rebuild and the replacement of fire station generators.
The police department's budget includes 12 police department positions -- eight police officers, a 911 operator and staffing for the Real-Time Crime Center.
The budget has earmarked $3.5 million -- the largest amount ever proposed in a single budget for expanding sidewalks. There is $11.5 million allocated to paving roadways, which nearly doubled.
There are funds for additional pipe and swale crews to address maintenance needs, as well as the design for the North Water Reclamation Facility.
There are also fiber and wireless connectivity upgrades, bridge maintenance, and expansions at key water treatment facilities is also among the items proposed in the 2025 budget.
The budget also includes investments in park enhancements and shoreline improvements with the most significant investment -- $10.4 million -- in the acquisition of the old golf course, something the city has been working on for nearly two decades.
There is $1.6 million allocated to beautification projects.
Money is also allocated to the design of a new neighborhood park at Northeast 15th Street, as well as repairing park boardwalks.
The budget document may be found at https://www.capecoral.gov/department/financial_services/office_of_management_and_budget.php
There will be a town hall on July 25 for the community. Individuals can also view it on Comcast Channel 98, Centurylink Channel 94 and on the CapeTV YouTube channel.
The city will adopt the final budget in September after two public hearings scheduled for 5:05 p.m. on Sept. 12, and Sept. 26.