The City of Winter Park posted the first draft of its 2025 budget last week along with a schedule of meetings and opportunities for public input. The $214.6 million plan, available here, includes a general fund of $82.9 million and maintains city’s current property tax rate, in place since 2009. The proposed budget also sets a general fund contingency of about $450,000 with an organizational support surplus of $100,000.
Public safety remains the largest general fund expenditure with 23.2% going toward police and 19.6% for fire. The budget includes additional staff for both departments with the addition of two firefighter/EMT positions, a fire logistics manager, and the upgrade of a part-time police grant and accreditation manager for a full-time position.
Property taxes remain the most significant source of revenue with property valuations up 8.2%. Professional service charges represent the second largest revenue source with fees set to increase. The city will enter the second year of a 2-year rate adjustment to the solid waste contract and a recently passed penny-per-square-foot increase to the stormwater rate assessment will kick in for all properties. Wastewater rates are approved by the Florida Public Service Commission and are expected to increase by 3.24%.
Projects
General fund projects include $1.7 million for brick street repairs and upgrades, $923,000 in facilities improvements, and $613,000 for park investments ranging from golf course improvements to community center additions.
Electrical undergrounding remains a priority despite the ongoing lack of available equipment. The effort is expected to last until 2030 and $8.1 million is set aside for funding. Water & wastewater estimates $1.3 million for lift station improvements with a $2 million investment in water and sewer mains.
Basin studies will be released in August with resulting projects added into the capital project priority list. Current stormwater projects include $590,000 for drainage improvements at Canton and Knowles avenues, $300,000 for nutrient studies and lake treatment, $200,000 for corrugated metal pipe replacement, and $130,000 for canal sediment removal.
Meanwhile, the city’s 25-year strategic plan contains $126 million in potential projects with no identified means of funding. User fee increases for city facilities and services are among the funding sources available to City Commission, but not included in the current budget proposal. Another source that was briefly discussed during last year’s budget meetings is a quarter point increase to the millage rate, which would equal an additional $2.2 million in property tax revenue. Priority projects and possible funding sources will be among the topics of discussion during the upcoming budget hearing schedule.
Meetings
A review of the CRA budget and capitol planning will take place at the July 24 City Commission meeting. Members of the public can offer feedback during public comments at this meeting and at City Commission meetings on August 14 and 28. The first reading for the adoption of the 2025 budget is scheduled for September 11 with the final vote scheduled for September 25.