During the September 23 Winter Park City Commission meeting, the Commission voted 4-1 to pass an ordinance that will maintain the current operating millage rate at 4.0923 and debt service millage at 0.1263 for the 2021 fiscal year. This was the second reading of the ordinance, which was first heard during the September 9 meeting.
Mayor Steve Leary cast the lone vote in opposition to passing the ordinance, as he had proposed a decrease in the millage rate at the September 9 meeting, which would roll back the rate to 3.9509. Leary expressed that the reduction would show Winter Park residents support and understanding amidst the economic difficulties resulting from COVID-19. He brought the motion for the decrease forward to the commission during the September 23 meeting, but it did not receive a second.
During the July 22 meeting, Commissioner Marty Sullivan brought up a motion to increase the millage rate 11.5 percent to 4.5623, however there was opposition to the increase among a group of Winter Park residents, and the commissioners ultimately decided against increasing the rate.
There was no discussion of the ordinance among the commissioners during Wednesday’s meeting, and only one member of the public called in for public comment. The caller was Bill Sullivan, who recently organized a yard sign campaign and distributed 250 signs opposing the potential tax increase to Winter Park residents. During his comments, Sullivan expressed gratitude to the commissioners. “I want to commend you for voting tonight to keep the millage rate the same… This vote shows that you are listening to the citizens of Winter Park,” Sullivan said.
The current millage rate has been in place for the last 12 years.