Winter Springs moves to prepare FY27 budget at rolled-back 2.516‑mill rate after debate

City staff presented a revised FY27 budget and recommended advancing a balanced budget at the rolled‑back millage rate of 2.516 mills to avoid requiring a supermajority vote and to limit property‑tax increases for homeowners.

City manager Kevin Sweet and finance director Holly Queen described a package of adjustments that reduced spending roughly $434,376, retained planned employee cost‑of‑living adjustments, and sought to protect sworn police staffing. "The budget I intend to present at the 1st public hearing on September 14 will establish the FY27 millage rate at the rolled back rate of 2.516 mills," one staff speaker told the commission, explaining that the reduction required reexamining project timing and cost allocations.

Commissioners debated the tradeoffs. Some members warned a rollback tends to shift a larger share of the tax break to commercial properties and recently purchased homes rather than long‑term homesteaded residents; other members said cutting further would harm long‑term services and infrastructure. Commissioner Sarah Baker moved, and Commissioner Victoria Bruce seconded, a direction for staff to prepare the FY27 budget at the rollback rate. The motion passed 4–1 (Commissioner Paul Diaz cast the lone no vote).