Commissioners to take first vote this week on new Winter Park budget

The more than $200 million proposed budget includes changes to address commission priorities

Sept. 9, 2023

By Beth Kassab

City Commissioners will vote Wednesday on the more than $200 million city budget and settle some key questions such as how much to set aside for flood prevention, whether the Winter Park Library will have enough money to open on Sundays, and if the city will acquire a bank-owned parcel to expand Seven Oaks Park.

A budget memorandum prepared by city staff notes changes made to the proposal in recent weeks, which now contains a contingency fund of nearly $700,000 as a result of revised revenue estimates from the state. Changes include:

• An additional $350,000 for the Winter Park Library, which will allow expanded hours and programming, including on Sundays. The money will come from the Community Redevelopment Agency’s budget and is planned to continue on an annual basis.
• At least $1.5 million is set aside, also from the CRA budget, for stormwater improvements such as flood prevention on the city’s west side, which makes up the CRA.
• $200,000 will go toward projects that are part of the Transportation Master Plan.
• $150,000 in the general fund is set aside as a potential matching grant for the Mead Garden Trails project.
• About $150,000 will be devoted from the general fund to create a new construction manager position within Public Works.
• About $113,000 will be devoted to a new community services officer civilian role for Winter Park Police.
• About $1 million over two years to make improvements to Aloma Avenue and S.R. 426 as part of the Fix 426 initiative. Staff noted that more funds may be needed, but that the nearly $700,000 in contingency funds as well as $19 million in the city’s reserve funds could serve as bridge funding.

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