The Florida Department of Government Efficiency has been given direct access to the City of Cape Coral\u2019s systems to obtain the information sought for their most recent inquiry.<\/p>\n
The city received a letter on May 26 from the Department of Government Efficiency stating that \u201cthe Florida DOGE team, in partnership with the Office of Policy and Budget, are conducting a review of local government financial and personnel information in local governments across the State of Florida. We are continuing to carry out Governor DeSantis\u2019s mission of making state and local government efficient and effective, and promoting good stewardship of taxpayer resources.\u201d<\/p>\n
Councilmember Jennifer Nelson-Lastra said she was excited.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know the city has given DOGE access to all of our computer systems to access on their own, so they can go in and pull the information they needed on their own,\u201d she said. \u201cI acquired about DOGE last fall and asked from the dais to support openly, willingly, to open books and invite them to come in.\u201d<\/p>\n
The city confirmed that DOGE was given direct access to its system, so the agencies can obtain the information themselves, in accordance with their request. The city also is in the process of adding the information staff provided to the city\u2019s website but that will take some time due to the large file sizes.<\/p>\n
Nelson-Lastra said it is a great opportunity for \u201cour\u201d government to be able to be as transparent as possible and show residents what they discover, what they find.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have said it before \u2014 it\u2019s a win-win for residents and the city because either way, if there is something they are finding that isn\u2019t appropriate, we can correct it,\u201d she said, or, if everything looks fine, they can move on. \u201cIt\u2019s a great thing to happen to our city.\u201d<\/p>\n
The letter addressed 14 areas including vendor information; change order information; purchase order information; information on all purchase orders and contract payments in excess of $5,000; information on all technology consultant or IT staffing agreements and construction permit data for fiscal year 2024, 2025 and 2026.<\/p>\n
The items also included all information on all active software licenses, SaaS subscriptions, IT maintenance agreements, and cloud service contracts; and contracts P12375 \u2013 Hazen and Sawyer, and P12214 \u2013 I&I Project Management.<\/p>\n
The letter also requested local business tax receipt rosters for all lodging-category licenses for fiscal year 2025-2026 including NAICS code, premise address and renewal status; contracts with Stantec Consulting from fiscal year 2023-2024 to present; Hudson Creek development; enterprise technology CIP and subscription-based information technology arrangement; independent appraisals for the Old Golf Course property, Southwest Aggregates Mine and Seven Islands sale to Gulf Gateway Resort and a current snapshot of personnel data for filled and vacant positions.<\/p>\n
Councilmember Bill Steinke said he is proud of the way they run the city and is more than happy to be open to investigation and to share the facts about what the city invests money in and where the money comes from.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have our own internal city auditor and then we also have external third-party auditors that look at us every year. In every one of those audits there are always recommendations that might want to do this and that, and that is fine. I am more than happy to get an objective opinion on some things we can do differently \u2014 that we can do more efficient, or effective,\u201d Steinke said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With that said, one of the concerning things for him is the uniqueness of Cape Coral.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way any one city in our state is run, or financially managed, doesn\u2019t necessarily work for the next city,\u201d he said of being evaluated as a city that is just over half built out, is pre-platted, and is dealing with an increasing population. \u201cTo some degree we are at the mercy of when the property owners want to do something with their property.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steinke said it is not an easy task to be infrastructure ready, which requires some investment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we are dealing with a balanced budget, which is a requirement by statute, all of our revenue sources have to match up with our expenses,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have to allocate part of the revenue sources that we know, we are receiving to all of those things that are going to be required that take two or three years to complete. We have to start considering those two, or three years at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steinke said there are some loud critics saying they should only be supplying needs, not wants. He said just like beauty is in the eye of the beholder, need is also.<\/p>\n
As far as the DOGE letter, he hopes they keep all those things in mind when it relates to a city that is as unique and large as Cape Coral, and \u201cconflicting priorities that we have.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur city is really at its adolescence \u2013 the most expensive stages,\u201d Steinke said.<\/p>\n