Longwood sets $50 million bond referendum for Nov. 3 to fund fire and police facilities

The Longwood City Commission set a second public hearing and approved first reading May 4 for an ordinance to ask voters this November to authorize up to $50 million in general obligation bonds to finance public safety capital projects.

Dustin Wilbride, the city finance director, told commissioners the November 3 ballot question would authorize the city to issue general obligation debt maturing within 30 years and payable from ad valorem property taxes if voters approve. Wilbride said the city also receives other dedicated revenues (small local sales-tax streams) that could be used for repayment or collateral in other financing structures, but bond counsel advised not to mix funding pledges in the referendum question because that can raise legal issues.

City attorney explained the charter requires a referendum for capital borrowings over $6 million and noted the ordinance does not commit the city to borrowing or to specific projects; it authorizes the voters to approve up to $50 million in principal, and later the commission would decide which projects to fund (one, two, three or none). Commissioners asked whether other revenue streams could be pledged; staff said the current ballot language contemplates ad valorem repayment but there is flexibility at the commission stage to use other funding tools if appropriate.

The commission approved the first reading and set May 18 as the date for the second public hearing. No members of the public spoke at the first hearing.