Time for change
To the editor:
Have you seen the latest Cape Coral publication of “On the Move”? Mayor Burch used it to tout his candidacy and City Manager Stewart is up to his old tricks saying he reduced staff by 226 employees from two years ago but he did not tell us what the actual current number is or what the approved budget will support. Nor do we know how many management positions were eliminated which is the first area he should be cutting. According to page 150 of the 2008 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city had 1918 Full Time Equivalent employees at the end of 2007. Therefor his claim of 226 less would put us at 1692…..or is it some other number? By comparison, we only had 1530 on the payroll at the end of 2005. I also noted that he said “Sun Splash Wraps Up A Successful Season.” What he failed to say is how much money it lost and how he measures success.
Another thing the public should know is that total spending in 2005 was $279 million. That compares to the $408.9 million approved by the Council for next year at its Budget Workshop meeting this past week. We were told this is a bare bones budget and that any other cuts would be a disaster for the city.
Our only ray of hope is the six people who signed the “Contract with Cape Coral” because the contract says there will be some major changes made after the next election. I am looking forward to a newly elected Council which will put a stop to the excessive spending and the spin put out by Mr. Stewart and his supporters on the current Council. The six who signed the contract have promised major cuts in spending will be made without cutting essential services and the public will know what is going on without any spin.
Sal Grosso
Cape Coral