Winter Garden to discuss budget, host City Commission meeting tonight

After cancelation of a scheduled meeting on Thursday, Sept. 29 due to Hurricane Ian, the city of Winter Garden will meet to host a regular meeting and budget hearing at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the City Hall Commission Chambers, 300 W. Plant St.

Commissioners will first host a second reading and public hearing to adopt proposed budgets and a millage rate for Fiscal Year 2022-23.

At the first budget workshop, held on Thursday, Aug. 25, the commission approved the General Fund, tentatively budgeted at $50,848,386, which includes $28,076,777 for taxes; $11,419,080 for intergovernmental revenues; $5,500,556 for charges for service; $4,967,958 for permits, fees and special assessments; $835,181 for other revenue; and $48,834 for fines and forfeitures. 

The city is expecting the ad valorem taxes to come in at $21,351,106, utility and service taxes at $6,480,026 and local business tax at $245,645.

For this budget, Finance Director Laura Zielonka said the ad valorem taxable value increased by 12.1%. The city is recommending keeping the millage rate at 4.5 mills, which will generate about $21.3 million in revenue, an increase of about $2.3 million.

The city has kept the millage rate flat for the past five years. 

The budget hearing will be immediately followed by a city commission meeting where commissioners will talk over several proposed developments, which we first told you about here.

Regular business items will cover topics including several recommendations for site plan approvals and discussion of an upcoming special event. 

To view the full agenda, click here.