City Council Approves 2027 Budget, Maintains Millage Rate

October 6, 2026

The Cape Coral City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget during the final budget hearing Thursday, September 24. The $1.439 billion budget includes maintaining the operating millage rate at 5.1471 and supports the City’s long-term strategic goals while helping to address population growth, inflationary pressures, and infrastructure needs.

Key Investments in the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget:

ADVANCING PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY RESILIENCE

Public safety remains a top priority in FY27, with significant new investments across police, fire, and emergency management services, including $91.7 million for the Fire Department, $99.2 million for the Police Department, and $2.3 million for Emergency Management and Resilience.

The budget maintains the Fire Service Assessment at 81 percent.

The budget includes key investments to strengthen Cape Coral’s fire services, focusing on staffing, facilities, training, and safety upgrades, including:

$62 million allocated to fire personnel services
$2 million in equipment and facilities needs
$1.5 million for Fire Station 14 Apparatus
$1.2 million for Fire Station 14 Design
$750,000 in Cardiac Monitors for Advance Life Support Station Replacements
$317,000 to replace aging fire department vehicles

Investments in Cape Coral’s police services support personnel growth, facility enhancements, and the addition of cutting-edge technology and equipment:

$81.2 million allocated to police personnel services
$2.6 million to replace aging police department vehicles
$1.7 million in facilities and equipment needs
$180,000 for new police speed measuring devices
$175,000 for a Crisis Negotiation Team Van
$150,000 for Aggressive Drive Unit Vehicles
$103,000 for Dispatch Workstation Replacement
$28,000 for K-9 replacement

The budget includes strengthening emergency operations and improving weather event resilience, including:

$1.6 million for Master Pump Generators

FISCAL HEALTH

Cape Coral is committed to maintaining strong fiscal health by enhancing the City’s resilience to economic fluctuations and disaster response, including:

Funding of the Budget Sustainability Reserve, which is now $62.2 million and is equal to 2.9 months of FY27 General Fund expenditures. This reserve will bolster future fiscal resilience and support innovative initiatives, including sustainability-focused projects and is 0.1 months shy of the three-month reserve policy.

MODERNIZING INFRASTRUCTURE: ROADS, BRIDGES, AND CONNECTIVITY

The FY27 adopted Budget includes major infrastructure upgrades, reflecting Cape Coral’s commitment to equitable access, mobility, and resilience, including:

$12.9 million for road repaving, including alleyways, funded by gas tax, and water and sewer funds
$3.1 million towards Andalusia Boulevard Extension
$2 million in Bridge Rehabilitation
$1.2 million for City Hall Building Maintenance
$700,000 for median curbing
$510,000 Turn Lane/Signal/Access Management as part of Road Resurfacing
$200,000 for ADA upgrades as part of road resurfacing

UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE

Cape Coral remains one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. The FY27 adopted budget includes capital improvements and facility expansions to meet the demands of a growing population, including:

$400 million in additional funds for the North Water Reclamation Facility
$37.1 million in additional funds for the North 3 UEP water, sewer, irrigation transmission, collection, and distribution
$16 million in additional funds for the Everest Headworks
$15.5 million in additional funds for the North Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Plant Wellfield expansion phase II
$1.5 million for water reclamation lift station relocations and generator replacement
$2.2 million for wastewater inflow and infiltration
$1.9 million in additional funds for the Water Reclamation North South Transfer Pump station
$1 million for the South Reverse Osmosis Plant Ground Storage Tank Coating

INVESTING IN QUALITY OF LIFE

Cape Coral continues to invest significantly in its parks and recreation infrastructure to provide enhanced amenities and improved facilities for residents, including:

$3.4 million for Coral Oaks Golf Course operations
$1.5 million for the replacement of the lighting at the Northwest Softball Complex for Fields 1-5
$1.5 million for playground replacements at Strausser BMX Sports Complex and Rotary Park
$266,000 for fitness station replacements at Joe Stonis Park
$280,000 in parking lot improvements including sealcoating, curb stops, and striping at various parks
$140,000 for Tennis/Pickleball/Basketball Court resurfacing at Jim Jeffers Park and Burton Park
$100,000 for Lake Kennedy Senior Center lobby renovation

In addition to facility improvements, Cape Coral prioritizes personnel support, beautification efforts, and diverse community programming, including:

$1.8 million for city special events, such as Red, White & BOOM, Bike Night, and Holiday Nights on the Lawn
$1.8 million for the Frieda B. Smith Special Populations Center for adults and children with intellectual disabilities
$741,360 for community median maintenance
$414,645 to operate Pops Cafe, which employs members of the community with special needs
Youth and Senior programming:
$2 Million for programming at the Youth Center
$1.7 million for Athletics
$899,425 for the Art Center
$956,322 for the Lake Kennedy Center
$888,839 for the South Cape Community Center
$1.4 million for Environmental Recreation
$723,076 for Four Freedoms Park

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND WATER QUALITY

The budget prioritizes environmental protection through major investments in advanced stormwater management, flood prevention, drainage improvements, aquatic vegetation control, and water quality upgrades, including:

$1.7 million for weir improvements
$2.6 million for 83 Catch Basing replacements
$2.5 million for dredging
$1.7 million for stormwater drainpipe and catch basin improvements
$1 million for aquatic vegetation harvesting in the South Spreader Canal
$1 million for Rotary Dog Park stormwater system retrofit
$640,000 for street sweeping
$500,000 for water quality management improvements

DRIVING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

To encourage long-term prosperity and sustainability, the budget includes economic initiatives, including:

$3 million for proposed economic development incentives reserve, which would fund commercial growth opportunities and support targeted industry expansion per the City's reserve policies.

This year's budget dedicates grant funding to programs that strengthen entrepreneurship, environmental innovation, technology, and community development, including:

$661,243 for programs serving Special Populations
$427,778 for the Tourist Development Council

OASIS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Cape Coral dedicates significant resources to its municipal charter school system and varied educational programs, enhancing learning opportunities for residents of all ages, including:

$50.4 million to run the municipal charter school system