Tavares council approves ordinance to put four-year council terms on ballot

The Tavares City Council voted 4-0 to approve Ordinance 2026-03, sending a charter amendment to voters that would change council terms from two years to four and align municipal elections with even-numbered statewide general elections.

City staff explained the measure during the second reading. "The proposed ordinance amends section 3.03 and 10.04 of the city charter to provide for 4 year terms for city council members and to align municipal elections with statewide general elections," a staff presenter said, describing transitional provisions and the ballot language the referendum will use. Supporters said the change will reduce the frequency and cost of local elections.

"What we might spend to get this done will be turned back to us five times over in a 4 year term," one council member said, noting production costs of about $14,000 and an estimated savings of $70,000 over four years. Council members argued that holding elections in even-numbered years could increase turnout and give council members a broader electorate.

Mayor Pfister said he was "questioning it a bit" and voiced concern that less-frequent elections limit voters'ability to remove an out-of-step council member. Council discussion balanced fiscal savings and turnout arguments before a motion to approve the ordinance as written passed unanimously.

The ordinance amends city charter sections and includes staggered transition terms for seats so that elections will continue every two years, with certain seats initially elected to different term lengths to establish the new cycle. The measure must be approved by the city's electors in a referendum before taking effect.

What happens next: the city will place the charter amendment language on the next available referendum ballot for voter consideration. Council members noted their intent to let residents decide.