How will Winter Park pay for future? Here are three options
Sale of the old Winter Park Library could be back on the table as commissioners mull large infrastructure needs
By Beth Kassab
Winter Park commissioners heard an overview from City Manager Randy Knight about how they might pay for big-ticket items such as transportation improvements, flood control and new fire stations in the coming years, though the immediate consensus seemed to be that there is not enough time to prepare a bond referendum for the March 2024 ballot.
That means the earliest voters might be asked to approve taking on more debt for city projects would be 2025 unless the commission opts for a special election or off-cycle mail ballot.
Mayor Phil Anderson noted that the city is contemplating about $100 million worth of transportation projects, including SunRail, sidewalks and road improvements, on top of about $20 million in flood and stormwater control, that are left without funding after Orange County voters rejected the penny sales tax last year. Another estimated $10 million will be needed for new fire stations resulting from increased demand from the mixed-use Ravaudage development and potential new annexations near Interstate 4.
“These are big things that need big plans,” Anderson said at the Wednesday meeting. “That’s really why we have asked Mr. Knight to come forward with different options. I don’t know if any are ripe for a bond issue in March.”
In addition to a bond referendum, commissioners could also opt to raise property taxes, a move they weren’t willing to make during a recent debate about next year’s budget.
More likely is the extension and expansion of the Community Redevelopment Agency, a special district that siphons off a portion of tax revenue increases to reinvest back into the district. But that change must be approved by the Orange County Commission before the CRA sunsets in 2027. City staff said it’s difficult to estimate how much a new CRA would generate in additional revenue until the boundaries are settled.
Finally, Knight noted that the commission could decide to sell the old library property on New England Avenue or the city’s tree farm to generate more cash. In a discussion earlier this year, commissioners voiced opposition to selling the old library and instead issued an RFP asking developers to come forward with new ideas for the property by Nov. 30.
But there are some early indications that opinions about selling the old library could be changing. Commissioner Marty Sullivan asked Knight if the RFP, which asked for proposals by Nov. 30, would prevent such a sale, and Knight said commissioners could cancel the RFP if they were so inclined.
Questions or comments? Email the editor at WinterParkVoiceEditor@gmail.com
Thank you for the update via the Winter Park Voice news. Regarding the library requesting more funds; I would suggest the folks in charge review their budget; make the necessary budgetary adjustments to meet their needs rather asking for more funding. Perhaps we should start charging for library use! What we need are less employees; less library hours. Sounds like another government jobs program; only it is here in Winter Park.
Perhaps you misinterpreted the update. The library in 2018 had 42 employees, 10,000 resident cardholders and was open 68 hours per week. The monthly library visits were 11,000 people. In 2023 there are 36 employees, 17,000 resident cardholders and the library is open 66 hours per week-the most of any public library in C. Florida. Monthly visits are 13,000.
16% fewer employees than 2018. Every other measure is up by double digits.
The director gave the commission 2 requests. #1 is fully fund request. #2 is less than #1. Both included Sunday openings. They are doing more with less. If Sunday openings isn’t a big issue for commission, they can stay at current levels.
Liebrary – We all knew the ask for more funds was coming. For the new Executive Director, it’s important to point out that few trust anything generated from the library, as they sold the public a false bill of goods years ago. There is nothing worse than government lying to the public to misuse tax dollars. People don’t soon forget. (It’s noted the current Commission inherited this mess.) It stands to reason that the library needs additional money to operate because of a former Commission’s luxury tastes and bloated construction budget and never reading the fine print. Note to new Executive Director – you have a lot of trust mismanagement to overcome.
The library should be funded only to the extent of what the Orange County Library Tax would be if Winter Park property were subject to it.
On the other millions of dollars… this commission has wasted tens of millions in direct costs for stuff we don’t need, in opportunity cost, and has created unnecessary liabilities to the tune of millions more.
We don’t need more debt or a tax increase. We need a new commission.
Wish we could opt out of failed Sun Rail. Wish we could get our money back for the budget busting Adjaye cement prison facsimile. Wish the city commission would stop forcing tax payers to subsidize Ravaudage infrastructure and services when the developer should be on the hook. And I wish every commissioner would see the value of the former library site for what it is…an indispensable gateway that many, including Rollins, covet and salivate over.
Sell Winter Park electric utility back to Duke Energy. That alone would provide enough money to pay for parks, infrastructure, and everything else the residents want.
Please no more annexations. Winter Park needs to focus on quality over quantity. The cost benefit analysis is not in current residents’ best financial interest. Annexations tend to over promise and under deliver. Do we really “need” another Ravaudage? Are we longing for more residents, more traffic, more apartments and density in our midst? More intensive infrastructure demands? Transit oriented development does not seem aligned with the vision of most current residents.
It would be interesting to hear what the winter park chamber of commerce thinks about all this. They are a powerful and influential group and we should see if they can be aligned with the best interests of the local businesses and the residents. Are these mutually exclusive? Cause I’m sensing a divergence.
Apparently you haven’t spoken to a Duke customer recently…..do that and you’ll appreciate our utility.
Library management did not build the library. The City of Winter Park did. the library has been doing more with less for the past 4-5 years. It should be open on Sundays. Comparing our library to the Orange County library system is irrelevant.
Funny, I thought the same about the old library.