CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK) \u2014 The City of Cape Coral received a report from the Florida Department of Government Efficiency with recommendations on staffing and procurement.<\/p>\n
The review found no fraud, waste or illegal spending. The city received the DOGE report and recommendations on Oct. 16, according to a memo from City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn to Mayor John Gunter and council members.<\/p>\n
The city began the review after Florida DOGE requested information on May 26.<\/p>\n
During the review, the city said it provided DOGE with every requested document. This included 14 categories of records covering fiscal years 2024 through 2026, 339 posted documents and read-only access to the city’s financial and personnel systems.<\/p>\n
DOGE found Cape Coral’s overall staffing “lean” and below the median of its dataset in full-time employees per 1,000 residents across many functions. The report estimates potential annual personnel savings of $3.8 million to $6.5 million, about 3.8% to 6.6% of the $99.1 million civilian base payroll reviewed.<\/p>\n
The city said it already reduced staffing before DOGE’s letter arrived as part of the fiscal year 2027 budget adjustments presented at the final budget hearing on Sept. 10.<\/p>\n
The city removed six vacant positions totaling $849,680.<\/p>\n
City staff requested a meeting with the DOGE team to discuss and clarify questions regarding the recommendations.<\/p>\n
“While DOGE described its recommendations as a starting point for the City to further assess some areas, we see the report as a useful outside look at our organization,” Ilczyszyn said in the memo.<\/p>\n
The city said it is taking each recommendation seriously and will provide City Council with a detailed response to each.<\/p>\n