Winter Springs debates tax hike, starting at 86%

By Sandra Pedicini | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted August 11, 2005

Winter Springs residents are in for a shock when they open their
property-tax notices later this month.

How does an 86 percent rate increase sound?

That's what they'll find: a proposed general city tax rate of $8 per
$1,000 of taxable value, compared with $4.30 now. That would mean an
additional $832.50 on a $250,000 house with a standard homestead
exemption.

But don't panic, city officials say. They don't really plan to raise
taxes that high.

Winter Springs Mayor John Bush, in fact, said the proposal was made
"tongue-in-cheekly."

But City Commissioner Robert Miller said he thinks it's time for Winter
Springs to talk more seriously about how it plans to pay for future
expenses. That includes not only government staples, such as more
police officers, but also a parking garage for the city's new town
center, a community center and splash pads for kids in city parks.

Commissioners don't yet know how much those things will cost or what
options they have to finance them. So they voted 3-2 last month to set
the proposed tax rate sky-high and give themselves some wiggle room
before they vote on a final rate in September.

Cities can go lower than a proposed tax rate but cannot go higher.

Sandra Pedicini can be reached at spedicini@orlandosentinel.com or
407-772-8033.

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