Why the Council Ditched the Budget Review Committee and Why We Deserve DOGE!

To start the process, Mayor Gunter and Councilmembers Patty Cumming, Dan Sheppard, and Keith Long voted to remove Budget Review Committee Chair Shadrach, while Robert Welsh, Bill Steinke, and Tom Hayden voted to keep him. The committee was created to give citizens a voice in the budgeting process to promote the city’s financial health and welfare. Welsh opposed the removal, calling it personal!

Shadrach agreed, saying Councilwoman Cummings pushed the motion without presenting any real issues. Shadrach defended his work: “I have a master’s in finance. I analyze the data I’m given. If the data’s flawed, my conclusions may be too, but I work with what I have.”

In protest, all remaining committee members resigned. Member George Starner sent a resignation letter to the mayor, citing concern over Cummings’ actions. After the resignations, Gunter, Cummings, Sheppard, Long, and Steinkie voted to terminate the committee.

The Council voted to eliminate the Budget Review Committee as part of a push to streamline communication and reduce staff resources, opting for alternative public engagement methods over a formal citizen advisory panel. The result? Less transparency and fewer citizens actively overseeing how our money is spent.

The city called it a Town Hall. What did we get?

A scripted 20-minute video, glossy handouts, cheap giveaways, and over 25 staff for fewer than 10 residents. Then a pizza party. All on your dime!

Feel informed yet? Now ask: How much did that cost?

Meanwhile, the Budget Review Committee, a volunteer group with real financial skills,

asked tough questions, got real answers, and worked without theatrics.

Their meetings were public, documented, and supported by staff. No spin. No showbiz. Just accountability. So ask yourself:

• Which cost more?

• Which delivered insight?

• Which served the public — and which served appearances?

It’s not complicated. One was a production. The other was real oversight.

Tell your council member: Bring back the Budget Review Committee.

All information has been thoroughly investigated and reported by the Take Out the Trash Committee of Cape Coral and/or its authorized volunteers!