06/16/2026
Understand Facts not Theories! Read till the end for details!
For those saying it can't be done: This was written by my husband who has over 20 years experience in underground utilities and possesses multiple state licenses and certifications.
Lisa Cohen-Adkinson For Mayor does not want to place the cost of future UEP expansion on the backs of taxpayers.
The reality is that many Cape Coral families are facing utility assessments that can reach $40,000 per household. People are literally losing their homes because of these enormous costs. Doing nothing and saying, "It can't be done," is not a solution.
Lisa is the only mayoral candidate bringing fresh, outside the box ideas to the table. Unlike the other candidates, who continue to defend the status quo and insist costs cannot be lowered, Lisa believes there are ways to make the UEP process more affordable for residents.
One idea she has discussed is shifting portions of the UEP workload to existing city employees, particularly within the Utilities Collection & Distribution Department. UCD is funded through utility user fees that we already pay, not through general taxpayer dollars, and it is one of the few departments that actually generates revenue for the city rather than taking from it. Lisa has never proposed moving the entire project in house. Certain aspects, such as lift stations and manhole construction, would still require contractors.
As for residents who have already paid for UEP expansion, Lisa has also discussed ideas to help ease their burden, including exploring utility credits or other ways for homeowners to recoup some of their previous contributions.
Before jumping to conclusions and declaring that lowering costs is impossible, perhaps the other candidates should do more research, think creatively, talk with the local experts and engineering firms and start offering actual solutions of their own.
Most importantly, Lisa has already proven she knows how to save taxpayers money. She holds the record for the largest savings to Cape Coral taxpayers when she was entrusted with a $110 million budget for the Public Safety Building and successfully delivered the project for just $23 million, a savings of $87 million to the people of Cape Coral.
That's not theory. That's a proven track record of fiscal responsibility.
Lisa welcomes the opportunity to meet with anyone who genuinely wants to hear her ideas and discuss real solutions for the future of Cape Coral. Leadership isn't about saying something can't be done. It's about finding a way to get it done.
