Winter Garden staff recommend 4.85-mill increase to shore up FY26 reserves

City staff presented the proposed fiscal year 2026 operating budget to the Winter Garden City Commission and recommended a small millage increase — from 4.5 mills to 4.85 mills — to generate roughly $2.2 million in recurring revenue and return the general fund reserve to the staff target of 20 percent.

The recommendation came during a budget workshop presentation that covered the city’s revenue mix, the composition of expenditures, capital priorities and next steps in the public hearing schedule. Laura (staff member) led the presentation and said the budget as presented requires no new positions and prioritizes public safety, infrastructure and maintaining an adequate fund balance.

Staff said Winter Garden’s total city budget for FY26 is about $180,000,000, with general fund expenditures projected at $68,000,000 and enterprise funds totaling about $97,000,000. The presentation showed operating revenues of $169,000,000 projected citywide and noted that property taxes represent about 18 percent of total city revenues. The general fund was described as nearly balanced at the current 4.5 mill rate, but that balance reflects volatile revenue assumptions and would leave reserves at approximately 17 percent.

Why it matters: staff told commissioners that continuing to fund ongoing services with one-time or volatile revenues would risk depleting reserves and could lead to credit-rating pressure. Laura said, “Ongoing services must be funded by ongoing revenues and reserves will be preserved…