The Shadrach Solution: Slush Fund #8 - Reserves and Fund Balances
As of September 2025, the City reported $119.2 million in the General Fund balance and $352.9 million across governmental funds. The Budget Stabilization Reserve alone is approximately $62.8 million, in addition to dedicated reserves for disasters, economic development, solid waste and other purposes. I'm not proposing that we recklessly spend our reserves. I'm saying we should stop pretending that questioning how much taxpayer money government is accumulating somehow puts the City in financial danger.
Reserves are important. I've never argued otherwise. But reserves are your money, and taxpayers deserve an honest conversation about how much is enough. The City's own policy calls for a Budget Stabilization Reserve of between two and three months of General Fund operating expenditures, and the proposed FY27 budget puts that reserve at about $62.75 million, or 2.9 months. Meanwhile, the City's fund balances have grown dramatically over the last decade.
So when someone tries to scare (more fear-mongering) residents by saying that looking at reserves means jeopardizing Cape Coral's financial security, I say: "show me the numbers." Let's maintain responsible reserves, follow our financial policies and prepare for emergencies, BUT let's also recognize when government is holding more of the taxpayers' money than it reasonably needs. Before asking Cape Coral families for another dollar, we should first account for the hundreds of millions of dollars they've already entrusted to us.
Click below for Slush Fund #8 full documents and research. Thank you for caring enough about our city to review and learn. Please vote for me on or before November 3rd.
Tom Shadrach
Permanent Cape Coral Resident
Candidate for City Council (Everyone Votes for Everyone)
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