CAPE CORAL, Fla. — A Southwest Florida lawmaker says the state-approved audit into the City of Cape Coral is moving forward.
Rep. Mike Giallombardo (R–Cape Coral) spoke exclusively with WINK News Anchor Claire Galt on Thursday.
He said he received an update from the state auditor and the audit process will begin soon.
This comes after the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee unanimously voted to approve a l last month, after state lawmakers presented findings, they say, prove the city’s building department is misusing funds and violating state law.
Cape Coral City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn has
“I welcome this audit,” he said.
In another with WINK News last month, Ilczyszyn said the expenses flagged by lawmakers and the CCCIA are related to the building fund — and do not violate state law.
requires building fees stay within the building department and be used only for building code enforcement.
Giallombardo claims the records he reviewed show money being diverted to unauthorized expenses, including:
Fire department costsPayroll for scanning clerksHurricane overtime
Giallombardo says he was made aware of the concerns by the Cape Coral Construction Industry Association (CCCIA), which provided state lawmakers with hundreds of pages of documents.
“The longer it takes for us to get projects approved and certified, sometimes a certificate of occupancy for a new building, for instance, might be delayed,” CCCIA President Keith Quackenbush . “That impacts people’s ability to move into the new home.”
Ilcyszyn said payroll expenses for scanning clerks were legitimate because the clerks were working specifically on documents tied to the building department.
“We do have clerks that scan documents that are related to the building fund,” Ilczyszyn said. “At some point, we are the record-keeper for all properties in the Cape.”
Giallombardo said he’s concerned because, in his view, “the building fund is depleted,” and he believes that’s contributing to long wait times for permits.
He said contractors in his district have shared examples of lengthy delays with him.
“I have constituents that have come to me, especially in the commercial space, they take two years, right?” Giallombardo said. “You know, think about a 10-unit, 1000 square foot, mini strip mall taking two years to get the permitting. That’s kind of ridiculous.”
He said a third of the complaints he’s received point back to Cape Coral’s building department and how it’s managed.
WINK Investigates requested updated records from the city to assess current permit wait times. Those records have not yet been provided.
Ilczyszyn said the city is fully cooperating with the audit.
WINK News is committed to following this story and will update you as we learn more.