No thanks to the FAC
To the editor:
It is ironic that the members of the Financial Advisory Committee (F.A.C.) who have recently resigned have alleged a lack of trust in our present city government. The clear and hard facts show that these past members of the F.A.C. have not been good stewards in the control of public spending.
In fiscal year 2007 the city of Cape Coral spent over $1,000 per capita on its general government operations whereas the city of Bonita Springs spend $600 per capita. The Cape’s spending for general government operations in 2006 and 2007 was grossly excessive, but had the approval of the F.A.C. The general fund budget was increased over 60 percent in just those two years. An additional 250 employees were added to the city’s payroll including an additional assistant city manager.
The city council a year later was forced to reduce 247 city employees by buy-outs, thereby doubling the number of city retirees on city pension. The pension fund is not now accurialy sound. That is the legacy of the retired members of the F.A.C. They should apologize for the past spending they had approved or at least remain silent.
Arnold E. Kempe
Cape Coral