Winter Springs commission adopts $79.6 million budget and sets final millage at 2.62 mils after last-minute debate

The City of Winter Springs City Commission on Sept. 22 adopted a $79,623,211 final budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and set the final operating millage rate at 2.62 mils.

The two items were approved during the commission’s regular meeting at City Hall. The resolution setting the millage (Resolution 2025-19) passed on a 4–1 vote; the resolution adopting the budget (Resolution 2025-20) passed 3–2 after an extended debate about capital equipment and a planned two-year streetscape replanting project.

Why it matters: the millage rate established the property tax rate the city will use to compute ad valorem tax bills, and the adopted budget sets spending priorities and capital work for the coming year. Staff said the adopted budget holds the city’s millage rate steady while reflecting changes in property values that increase the tax burden for some property owners.

City Finance Director Holly Queen told the commission the tentative millage, set Sept. 8, had been 2.62 mils and staff recommended the final rate remain the same. The motion to adopt Resolution 2025-19, establishing the 2.62-mil rate, noted that the final operating rate is 5.94% greater than the computed rollback rate of 2.473 mils.

The final budget document lists total citywide expenditures of $79,623,211. City Manager Kevin Sweet said the budget process involved “countless months of conversations” and a zero-based review across departments. “This is a monumental task,” Sweet said, praising department directors and the finance team for producing a budget that maintains current service levels without adding staff.

Commissioner Victoria Bruce led the most explicit objections on the dais, asking that a series of capital items be removed or reconsidered. Bruce named specific requests she called “wants” rather than needs, including building services lobby work, parks equipment, mowers, replacement vehicles, and a proposed Trotwood lacrosse wall. "This is a wish list," Bruce said. She asked that staff and the commission revisit those line items before spending begins.

City staff and the city manager pushed back that several of the challenged items are funded from dedicated funds or are part of multi-year replacement plans and therefore not freely transferable to other uses. Staff explained that the building-lobby cost came from the building services fund and had been carried forward because it was not spent in prior years. The city’s vehicle replacement plan and a five-year capital plan also were cited as reasons to retain some replacements to avoid a future backlog of worn-out equipment.

The commission also discussed an arbor fund line item in repair and maintenance for grounds (account 545270) that includes a two-phase, $500,000 program to replace street trees in the Tuscawilla Crossings area with smaller species to avoid future infrastructure damage. Staff said phase 1 of $250,000 is planned for fiscal 2026 and phase 2 for fiscal 2027; the replacement was described as a preventive measure to avoid far larger costs from sidewalk, street and utility damage caused by large oak roots.

Votes at a glance: Resolution 2025-19 — Final millage rate: Adopted to set the final operating millage rate at 2.62 mils and to publicly announce that this rate is 5.94% greater than the rollback rate of 2.473 mils. Motion by Deputy Mayor Kate Resnick; second by Commissioner Sarah Baker. Vote: Victoria Bruce, Sarah Baker, Kate Resnick, Commissioner Caruso — yes; Paul Diaz — no. Outcome: approved.

Resolution 2025-20 — Final budget FY 2025–26: Adopted to establish the citywide final budget of $79,623,211 for fiscal year 2025–26. Motion by Deputy Mayor Kate Resnick; second by Commissioner Sarah Baker. Vote: Kate Resnick, Commissioner Caruso, Sarah Baker — yes; Paul Diaz, Victoria Bruce — no. Outcome: approved.

What’s next: commissioners may bring individual line items back for amendment. Staff and the city attorney confirmed the commission can adopt the budget tonight and then bring amendments at subsequent meetings to remove or reprioritize specific capital items or projects. Commissioner Bruce said she intends to return selected items for further examination.

Meeting context and public input: one resident, Gina Shafer of Winter Springs Village, spoke during final public input about landscaping and reclaimed-water questions; her earlier public comment raised issues about parking and overgrown lots in the town center. The commission did not take additional action on those remarks during the meeting.

Background detail and clarifications: the budget packet and staff remarks indicated that certain appropriations are fund-specific (for example, the building services fees and the arbor fund) and cannot lawfully be spent for general debt service. The city manager and finance director said the vehicle replacements are part of a planned rotation and that deferring replacement can create larger costs later.