Winter Springs approves a possible property tax increase with a split vote

The City of Winter Springs voted to approve a potential “nominal” property tax increase for the coming year, with three commissioners voting in favor of the increase during a meeting Monday night. 

The city’s proposed 2024-25 budget would increase the city’s property tax rate from 2.41 mills to 2.62 mills, about an 8 percent increase from last year’s rate. That would roughly translate to an extra $21 in taxes for every $100,000 in a home’s value.

“None of us take the thought of a millage rate increase lightly,” said Winter Springs Mayor Kevin McCann. “My property owners insurance has skyrocketed, doubled in the last three years. Well guess what – so has the city’s.”

According to a table provided by the Seminole County Property Appraiser to Winter Springs Mayor Kevin McCann, the average assessed value of a home in Winter Springs is $263,809. But when you factor in property tax exemptions, the average taxable value in Winter Springs for the 9,878 residents with a homestead exemption is $207,606. 

That means the average Winter Springs homeowner will see their property tax bill go up by $43.50 for the year. The impact would be higher for the 2,758 homes without an exemption. Those homes are assessed at an average taxable value of $305,259, or a $64 increase for the year. 

If the City Commission wanted to keep the actual dollars coming into the city from property taxes flat, the tax rate would theoretically need to be lowered to 2.2394 because of increasing property values – what’s called the rolled-back rate. The increase is 17% above that rate.

Commissioner Rob Elliott said it comes after Winter Springs increased wastewater rates to begin paying for a new wastewater treatment plant, and when the city is talking of increasing other fees. 

“We hit our residents up fairly well, when it comes to cost increases,” Elliott said. “Whether it’s for wastewater treatment plants, or solid waste, we’re probably getting ready to do it with stormwater. … No matter what we call these different items that we’re asking our residents to pay, it all boils down to just another tax. Just because we call them different things doesn’t mean they don’t add up to asking our residents to pony up more money.”

Elliott and Commissioner Matt Benton voted against increasing the millage rate. Both Benton and Elliott are up for election this November, as is Commissioner Ted Johnson; Johnson voted for the possible increase. 

Winter Springs isn’t alone in considering a tax increase. Oviedo is again asking voters to approve a $20.4 million new public safety building. Altamonte Springs is proposing an increase to its millage rate to help keep open the Altamonte Springs Public Library.

 Winter Springs needs to get the proposed maximum millage rate to the property appraiser by Aug. 4, so that the property appraiser can send out notices to all homeowners in the city of the proposed increase. 

Without increasing the millage, the city would need to find an additional $751,000 in budget cuts. 

This isn’t the final vote on the subject. The commission set the maximum property tax rate, but would need to finalize its budget and adopt the final tax rate in September. 

That meeting will be held on September 9, 2024 at 6:30 P.M. You can watch the special meeting here where commissioners approved the maximum rate. Check here to see the budget workshop where commissioners questioned individual items in the budget.