WINTER PARK, Fla. — Winter Park is bracing for a potential budget shortfall in 2028 if voters approve the Amendment 3 ballot initiative in November.
Recommendations city leaders discussed during a work session Thursday afternoon include freezing two open positions in the fire department, reducing public pool hours, revamping their legal services department, and reviewing golf course contracts.
Those cuts could save the city between $200,000 and $600,000 a year, according to City Manager Randy Knight. Public safety would not be affected, he said.
Amendment 3 is expected to eliminate property taxes on primary residences for about 60% of Floridians. Economists believe that would cause budget shortfalls for city governments across the state.
The Winter Park FY 27 budget is balanced, so any revenue shortfalls caused by Amendment 3 would affect its 2028 budget.
“In the first year of implementation, which would be our Fiscal Year 28 budget, it’d be about $3.5 million, and then the following year would be about $6.5 million, “said Knight.
Winter Park has about $95 million in general funds.
City leaders will vote on the recommendations in September.
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