City Commission Work Session: Department Budget Presentations - July 9, 2026

The City Commission of Winter Park held a work session on July 9, 2026, to review departmental budget presentations focusing on 90% budget scenarios and potential 10% reductions. The meeting featured detailed presentations from Parks and Recreation, Police, and Fire departments, each outlining cost-cutting measures and revenue enhancement options. Discussions also included operational changes, service level impacts, and the timeline for decisions pending potential state tax reform.

Discussion Items

• Parks and Recreation Department Budget (Jason Seely):

  • The department's total budget is approximately $14.8 million, with about $7 million in revenues offsetting expenditures. A potential reduction of $1.54 million was outlined.
  • Park Maintenance: Savings of $330,000 by eliminating a private contractor for cemetery, library, and event center maintenance, with in-house work reduced frequency at mini parks.
  • Landscape Maintenance: Options include reducing annual plantings ($30,000 savings), swapping annuals for perennials, and using CRA funds to offset costs. A superintendent position was already downgraded, saving $20,000.
  • Urban Forestry: Proposals include eliminating tree planting ($345,000 savings), stopping zonal canopy lifting ($150,000 savings), and ending residential tree permitting ($75,000–$125,000 savings with staff reductions).
  • Recreation and Golf: Revenue-based divisions; potential increases from eliminating resident/nonprofit discounts, passing credit card fees to customers, and annual fee adjustments. No major cuts proposed for tennis, athletics, or event center, though early voting at the library was noted to cost $75,000–$100,000 in lost rental revenue.
  • Events: Proposed cutting three city-funded events ($18,000 operating, $15,000 staffing) and reducing CRA-funded events by 50%.
  • Aquatics: Reducing hours at Katie Way and community center pools during winter months ($150,000 savings); longer-term possibility of contracting out Katie Way pool ($500,000 savings).
  • Golf Courses: Winter Park 9 contract maintenance will save $150,000. Pines golf course can reduce part-time staff by two positions ($40,000). Covered driving range planned without computer system.
  • Commissioner Lindsay praised youth programs and emphasized avoiding staff cuts that would burn out employees. Commissioner Russell suggested field sponsorships to generate revenue.

• Police Department Budget (Chief Olkerson):

  • The department has 123 full-time employees (85 sworn). Key performance indicators: 96% of 911 calls answered in under 10 seconds; average response time to priority calls improved to 138 seconds year-to-date.
  • Crime saw a 20% reduction in 2025 (calendar year), but year-to-date 2026 shows an increase.
  • For a 10% reduction ($1.1 million), the chief proposed cutting four detective positions, sunsetting the HART team (homeless advocacy), eliminating one traffic officer, one community service officer, and contracting legal services.
  • Service reductions: reducing lakes patrol overtime ($20,000–$25,000) and cutting city event overtime ($100,000).
  • Operational changes: maintaining body cameras (critical for trust and protection), but potentially trimming software costs.
  • Revenue enhancements: expanding red light cameras (ordinance process required); increasing the city's fee for off-duty police details from $5 to $6 per hour.
  • Commission discussion: expressed support for body cameras and red light camera expansion. Chief noted that school zone cameras are not feasible due to low violation volume.

• Fire Department Budget (Chief Haggard):

  • Operating budget of $18.7 million; all increases in costs were absorbed to keep budget flat except salaries.
  • Key performance indicators: 641 calls year-to-date, with 90% arrival on suppression units within target (noted low number of incidents makes statistics volatile).
  • For a 10% reduction ($1.87 million), the chief outlined three options:
    • Option 1 (Quick cuts): Eliminate medical education specialist, emergency management coordinator, two fire inspector positions, roll back four net-new fire positions added in FY24-25, and close Station 64 (saving $1.875 million).
    • Option 2: Reduce daily minimum staffing from 19 to 16 (eliminating overtime; $575,000–$600,000 savings).
    • Option 3 (Combination): Mix of reduced staffing, increased fees (fire false alarm fees, fire inspector training fees), and a potential fire service assessment fee (target $315,000).
  • Discussion on fire service fee: Many cities have adopted separate fire assessment fees. Chief noted that 30% of call volume comes from 10 assisted living addresses, and a user fee is being explored regionally.
  • Commissioner Russell asked about maximizing Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement for ambulance transports; chief confirmed aggressive third-party billing and high recovery rates.

• Other Items:

  • Commissioner Lindsay raised the possibility of transferring the small pocket park at Holt and Lakeview (owned by city) to Rollins College for maintenance. Staff agreed to bring a workshop on this and other small parcels, possibly at the September 10th meeting.
  • City Manager summarized next steps: staff will compile a list of cost-cutting concepts and revenue enhancements with recommendations and timing options (immediate, after tax reform vote in November, or future fiscal year). The budget can be amended after adoption if tax reform passes.

Key Outcomes

• The Commission directed staff to bring back a detailed list of all proposed reductions and revenue enhancements with staff recommendations, including timing (immediate, conditional on tax reform, or later).
• Staff will prepare a workshop for September 10th to discuss transferring small parks and right-of-way parcels to other entities.
• The Police Chief will draft a red light camera ordinance for Commission consideration.
• The Fire Chief will continue to study a fire service assessment fee and bring it forward.
• The Commission noted that the budget is currently balanced at the existing millage rate; any reductions would free up funds for reserves or other priorities (e.g., paving). The final decision on reductions will be made after the November election results on the proposed homestead exemption tax reduction.