Florida state department looks into Cape Coral spending

The Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is reviewing Cape Coral's fiscal spending, focusing on construction contracts, engineering agreements, and overall expenditures, as residents voice concerns about how taxpayer dollars are being used. "We have to get out there and pay more attention to who we're voting for, because a lot of people probably don't do enough research. And, you know, they just figure I'm either on the left, or I'm on the right, and I'm in the middle. And of course, I do any research on who we're actually putting in charge of our money," said Don Spardling, a Cape Coral resident of over 30 years. Spardling said he believes the review is overdue. "Well, I think that they should all be held accountable to where our tax money, our tax dollars are going," he said. DOGE sent a letter at the end of May to the Cape Coral City Manager and Mayor John Gunter requesting detailed information on fiscal spending for 2024, 2025, and 2026. Todd Lindgren, who has lived in Cape Coral for 22 years, said he feels the city is making an effort to manage funds responsibly. "I think my own personal opinion is that they try to be fair. They're doing a pretty good job. Of course, everything can get better, you know. I imagine that there are some fundings that would need some more money right now in order to really thrive. We have areas that need to be brought up for more tourism," Lindgren said. Residents have expressed mixed opinions about recent developments and infrastructure projects in Cape Coral. "I just came back yesterday from being in downtown Boston for the FIFA. And you see just amazing buildings, you see, and you can't compare one with the other. But I do think that Cape Coral can become a much better destination for tourism. But in order to do that, I really do think that we have to invest in infrastructure to bring people in, because without that, I don't think we really have anything to offer," Lindgren said. The city is required to share all requested data with DOGE, which will be reviewed by the department. The city says, "The City of Cape Coral received a DOGE Request for Information on May 26, 2026 and is actively working with FL DOGE staff to provide the requested information."DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.