WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – Winter Garden residents packed City Hall Tuesday night to voice opposition to a proposed fire assessment fee aimed at closing a $12 million budget shortfall.
During a public meeting, many residents made it clear they support the city’s fire department, but strongly oppose the idea of paying more in taxes to fund city services.
“The taxes now, you want to go up. You want assessments. You want to increase. Guess what, the pockets are empty,” one resident told city leaders during the meeting.
The proposed annual fire assessment fee would start at $330 for homes smaller than 1,000 square feet and exceed $500 for homes over 3,500 square feet.
Some residents argued that the fee would disproportionately impact those living on limited or fixed incomes.
Critics also questioned why the city isn’t looking for alternative budget solutions, including reducing spending.
“How do we determine what the alternate methods may be in order to do, like we have to cut back. Instead of eating steak, maybe hamburger,” one speaker said.
Several attendees pointed to recent growth in Winter Garden, saying the increase in new development is what’s straining city resources.
“These homes that have been here for 15, 17 years, my home is not the problem,” one resident said. “Houses built in the ’40s are not the problem. The new additions are the problem. That is what is causing stress on our infrastructure.”
The Winter Garden City Commission is expected to hold a final public hearing and vote on the proposed fire assessment fee on Aug. 14.
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