City manager proposes $250.3 million FY 2026 budget, holds millage at 6.59 mills

City manager (name not specified) told the Winter Haven City Commission that the city’s proposed total budget for fiscal year 2026 is $250,280,102 and that the commission’s millage rate would remain at 6.59 mills.

The proposal, presented at a July budget workshop, would reduce overall spending roughly $45.9 million (about 15.5%) from the current year largely because many one‑time capital projects were completed in fiscal year 2025. The manager described the budget as balanced at the current millage and highlighted investments in public safety, affordable housing, sidewalks and a planned airport master‑plan update.

The tentative budget centers on six strategic pillars the commission adopted earlier: quality of life, community safety, infrastructure, responsible government, environmental stewardship and economic sustainability. The manager said the general fund will continue to support nondepartmental obligations, transfers to smaller funds and grant/aid programs to nonprofit partners.

Key figures and program choices

• Total proposed budget: $250,280,102 (presented as the tentative FY 2026 budget). • Change from FY 2025: presenter said the FY 2026 total is about $45,900,000 less (about 15.5% decrease), mostly because large capital projects were advanced in FY 2025. • Proposed millage rate: 6.59 mills, unchanged since 2022. • General fund: presenter cited both $78.3 million and later a $79.6 million general fund figure while describing revenue and expenditure details. • Ad valorem revenue: $31,500,000 projected for the general fund. • Positions: total authorized city…