What to know about the city budget this week
Contingency fund doubles to $1 million after new state contribution estimates
By Beth Kassab
An estimated $500,000 addition to the city’s contingency fund, which comes from the city’s share of state dollars along with local gas and communications taxes, could help the Winter Park City Commission balance next year’s more than $200 million budget — though an additional $18.1 million worth of projects must still find funding over the next five years.
Wednesday will mark the last City Commission meeting before the two final budget hearings September 13th and 27th.
Debate is likely to center on how to fulfill a number of priorities laid out by the commission. Those include:
- Mayor Phil Anderson has requested a new line item in the Community Redevelopment Agency’s budget devoted to stormwater and flood prevention projects. The exact dollar amount is still unknown because the city is just now hiring consultants to evaluate which infrastructure improvements are needed and when. Three consultants will be paid a combined $600,000 to study water runoff and flow. The mayor is pushing for some dollars to be included in the CRA budget now so that the most important projects can be tackled as soon as they are identified, rather than wait until the studies are complete.
- Vice Mayor Sheila DeCiccio is championing expanding offerings at the Winter Park Library with nearly $400,000 in additional funding that would allow the library to be open on Sundays and provide more programming. At least a portion of those dollars is also likely to come from the CRA, which includes the library.
- DeCiccio is also pushing for $150,000 for the city to hire a construction manager to help City Hall grow its in-house expertise, as a number of construction projects are underway. She is also asking for $75,000 to add a second Community Service Officer position to the Winter Park Police Department.
- Commissioner Marty Sullivan is advocating for $6 million to purchase land owned by the Bank of the Ozarks to expand Seven Oaks Park. It’s not clear where the dollars would come from, though some are advocating the city raise the money by selling the old Winter Park Library.
City staff have laid out multiple scenarios for how the local government can fund $100 million in transportation projects over the next 20 years, an estimated $20 million worth of stormwater improvements and two new fire stations.
Questions or comments? Email the editor at WinterParkVoiceEditor@gmail.com
Maybe the City’s upcoming budget shortfalls could be filled by proceeds of a sale-leaseback of the City’s starchitect designed monstrosity: the Winter Park Events Center.
The increased funding for the library is to expand programming and hours. There is no shortfall at the library. They can still be super-successful with the current levels. If commissioners want more programming and more hours of operation, they’ll have to fund it. The library is open more hours per week than the average public library in the area. And they are employing 6 fewer people than in the former library.
I don’t know about you, but I cannot wait to see who ends up with the old library. My suspicious side thinks it’s probably been decided forever.
What about the Winter Park Playhouse??
Add Blue Bamboo to the list of non-profits which are in desperate straits as landlords sell properties or roll rents.
I support the library being open on Sundays, but what programs would be expanded? My guess is there is only room for Sunday programming. And what would that look like? The residents need specifics, so they are better informed. What programs do the residents want? And are groups outside of winter park using these services and to what extent? I’m in a state of confusion.
MuffinMan the answers to your questions are only one phone call or email away. Just ask the Executive Director or just as easy, go back and watch the Library presentation to the City Council two weeks ago.
Winter Park should offer complimentary muffins at the Library.