Fellow Winter Park Residents,

Please share with friends and neighbors.

Let the commission know you want to see material spending reductions as they move to approve the final 2027 budget in September.

Winter Park city management is proposing a 2026-2027 budget with a 5.4% increase in General Fund spending in a 3.5% inflation environment. Over the past 8 years General Fund spending has increased at an annualized rate of 7.1%, more than twice the 3.4% annualized increases in the Consumer Price Index. Our city is now spending over $16,600,000 in excess of inflation each year.

The city commission is routinely spending every penny of increased revenues while decreasing our reserves to about 26% of General Fund spending, compared to the policy of 30%. Who among us considers this responsible behavior? At a minimum, the commission should reduce 2027 General Fund spending by the $3,800,000 required to meet our reserve policy. If the property tax referendum passes in November, the commission will need to enact some combination an increased property tax rate with spending reductions of as much as $3,000,000 in 2027-2028 and $6,000,000 in 2028-2029. This is all achievable by decreasing special interest spending that does not serve the general welfare of Winter Park residents and voters.

Our city management is professional and competent, but has a vested interest in spending increases that the city commission has simply rubber stamped in the past.

Let the commission know you want to see material spending reductions as they move to approve the final 2027 budget in September.