Winter Park approves new $214.6 million budget for 2025
The budget includes more dollars for infrastructure projects, public safety positions and local nonprofit organizations
September 13, 2024
By Beth Kassab
Winter Park’s city budget will grow to $214.6 million for 2025, a 3% increase from the current year driven by an increase in property tax revenue, higher fees paid by residents for stormwater projects and garbage collection along with sales tax revenue passed along by the state.
The City Commission voted 4-0 to approve the budget this week (Commissioner Marty Sullivan was absent from the meeting). Final approval of the spending plan is scheduled for Sept. 25.
The extra $6 million in the new budget will largely go to pay for new positions in the police and fire departments as well as public works projects for roads and other infrastructure.
Commissioners kept the city’s tax rate the same at 4.3302 mils, but higher home values drove property tax collections up by more than 8%.
Residents will also feel the impact from rising fees built into their water, sewer and garbage collection bills as well as the stormwater fee, which is collected as part of the annual property tax bill.
The higher fees account for an additional $3 million in the budget. The average customer will pay about $13 more per month or an extra $156 per year as a result of the rising rates, according to city budget documents.
Garbage collections skyrocketed as part of a new contract with Waste Management, the private contractor for the city.
The stormwater fees are rising as part of a three-year plan to raise rates to about 9 cents per square foot of what the city calls impervious surface (generally the amount of concrete covering a lot). The goal is to raise $2.7 million each year for flood prevention and to improve lake quality.
Commissioners will hold a work session later this month to discuss findings from a series of basin studies that are expected to identify stormwater improvements needed to manage flooding. The studies were ordered last year and are expected to be finalized in October, a city spokeswoman said.
Commissioners also approved an increase in the dollars they give to local nonprofit organizations.
For the first time in 10-years, the city will not provide $100,000 to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts after it’s funding agreement ended. Those dollars along with an increase in total support from $2.3 million this year to $2.4 million mean two new groups will receive funding along with increases for the nonprofits already funded by the city.
Organizations receiving support include:
- Mead Botanical Gardens: $98,000, a $4,500 increase.
- Winter Park Historical Association: $93,000, a $5,000 increase.
- Winter Park Day Nursery: $41,000, a $2,500 increase.
- United Arts: $19,000, a $600 increase.
- Blue Bamboo: $12,000, a $1,000 increase.
- Polasek Museum: $27,000, a $1,700 increase.
- Winter Park Library: $2,028,600, a $96,600 increase
- Winter Park Institute: $25,000, newly added this year.
- Men of Integrity: $18,000, newly added this year.
The city’s Community Redevelopment Agency, which is up for an extension and expansion from the Orange County Commission, will provide the following additional aid:
- Enzian Theater: $10,000, no change.
- Heritage Center: $50,000, no change.
- Welbourne Day Nursery: $41,000, a $2,500 increase.
- Winter Park Playhouse: $47,000, a $3,000 increase.
- Depugh Nursing Home: $23,000, a $1,000 increase.
- Winter Park Library: $368,000, an $18,000 increase.
The city’s reserve fund is expected to reach $21.2 million or about 27% of recurring annual operating costs in the General Fund, according to the city budget proposal. The percentage is decreasing because new expenditures are outpacing growth in revenue, according to the document.
Highlights of expenditures include:
•Spending on capital projects will remain stable at $25.6 million, mostly for undergrounding power lines and investments in stormwater.
• Four new public safety positions including two more firefighters/EMTs, a fire logistics manager and a full-time police grant and accreditation manager.
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Is Men of Integrity (a newly city funded organization) a religious organization? I did a quick search and this came up.
Daniel was a man like David, a man of integrity. “So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart” (Psalm 78:72). Wiersbe observes that “Integrity means having one heart (see Give Me An Undivided Heart), whereas a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8-note).
Is this a good idea? What have I missed here?
I also googled the Men of Integrity organization. My search did not specifically turn up the religious connection (maybe because I added Winter Park, FL in the criteria ?).
I copied this from their page:
Men of Integrity mentoring program is a developmental and skill building program that focuses on the growth of the young male students within the community and surrounding areas. To help improve academic achievement, self-esteem, social competence, and avoidance of problem/high-risk behavior by providing a relationship with a caring adult friend who works to help youth achieve their potential. Exposing the young men to positive environments i.e., learning about Communication & Social Skills, Mental & Physical Health, Education, and Financial Literacy.
$61,000 increase in donations to tax exempt organizations. Fair enough. At the same time, holding a tax exempt organization’s (Rollins College) feet to the fire to pay tribute to the city (PILOT) to approve their plans. Hmmm….Seems discriminatory to me.
I am so dismayed that the city is terminating the lease on The Winter Park Benefit Store at 140 Lyman Avenue which has been in business over 115 years. Every person who volunteers there receives no payment or compensation and every single penny is donated to 10 different charities. This is something our city needs to continue to do in terms of being a gracious neighborhood and helping others. I urge all of you who care about helping others to attend this meeting and voice your desire for this contract to continue!
Seems the city is funding a prevention program that assists young men. If the program works, then it is valuable in multiple ways. The city also should keep the Benefit Store as it has a long history of helping people. Come to think of it-both of these build community and that is what really drives a thriving city. Library access has improved and I thank the mayor and commissioners and library staff for taking care of business. I can tell you from personal and professional experience, having diverse arts and programs available in a community is its greatest asset so I am glad to see these programs funded.