Winter Springs adopts tentative millage rate and tentative budget; public hearing set for Sept. 22

The City of Winter Springs Commission on Sept. 8 adopted a tentative operating millage rate of 2.62 mills for fiscal year 2025–26 and approved a tentative citywide budget, authorizing the legally required advertisement and scheduling the final public hearings for Sept. 22.

Holly Queen, the city’s finance director, presented Resolution 2025‑14 setting the tentative millage at 2.62 mills. Queen said the proposed rate is 5.94% higher than the rollback rate of 2.473 mills and would produce approximately $618,000 in additional ad valorem revenue for the general fund if adopted at that rate. She told commissioners the proposed operating rate matched the rate set earlier in July and recommended not varying from the proposed figure.

Commissioners asked whether state and county revenue changes had been incorporated. Queen said revenue estimates from the legislature were incomplete but noted the city had seen roughly $200,000 of additional state revenue so far; she cautioned that interest income projections and other factors affect final receipts.

Deputy Mayor Mary Kate Resnick moved adoption of Resolution 2025‑14 to establish the tentative millage at 2.62 mills and to authorize advertising for the final hearings; Commissioner Sarah Baker seconded. The roll call vote passed with Caruso and Diaz voting no and Bruce, Baker and Resnick voting aye; the motion carried.

On the tentative budget (Resolution 2025‑15), Queen presented citywide tentative totals: General Fund $26,539,195; other governmental funds $20,000,417; enterprise funds $34,296,874. Commissioners approved the tentative budget and authorized advertisement for the Sept. 22 final hearings by the same vote pattern.

Queen said any subsequent revisions made by the commission will be reflected in the final budget hearing on Sept. 22. No final millage or budget decisions were adopted at the Sept. 8 meeting.