Cape Coral’s Charter Review Commission will meet on Thursday to decide whether or not to recommend that citizens vote on raises for city council and mayoral salaries, bringing the decision directly to residents after a controversial 2023 stipend sparked public outrage.
FOX 4’s Bella Line spoke with current council members and the Charter Review Commission Chair about the decision:
Cape Coral voters may get the chance to decide on council and mayor salary increases in 2026
The proposed amendment would set council member salaries at $70,000 and the mayor’s salary at $80,000 — nearly double their current compensation. If approved by the Charter Review Commission, the measure would go to the city council before potentially appearing on the 2026 ballot.
“This will be the people’s choice. Nobody else’s the council, the commission, nobody has a say, only the people,” said Richard Leon, Charter Review Commission chair…