Oviedo City Council to discuss potential budget cuts tied to Amendment 3
OVIEDO, Fla. —
The mayor of Oviedo said the city might soon face tough choices if Amendment 3 is passed by Florida voters in November.
“There is not enough fat to cut in Oviedo,” Megan Sladek said. “Everybody would like the status quo for less money. That’s not one of the choices.”
Amendment 3 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would increase the homestead property tax exemption. A 63-page packet prepared by Oviedo city staff takes a closer look at how this could impact finances.
According to the memorandum, the Seminole County Property Appraiser estimates the city of Oviedo “will see a reduction in Ad Valorem revenue” that totals $14.3 million across two fiscal years. That’s why city staff are proposing widespread changes to close the multi-million-dollar gap.
The plan proposes the following possible cuts:
Freeze vacancies and reduce city staffing Cut recreation programs and facility hours Eliminate city-sponsored events and holiday decorations Reduce street and sidewalk maintenance Outsource custodial and concession services Cut city council travel, lobbying and operating expenses
“We will need to eliminate 70 staff positions to balance the budget, if it is done with only cuts,” Sladek said. “That’s a significant percentage of the (city) workforce.”
The following city-sponsored events could be on the chopping block, according to the report: Oktoberfest, Bark and Brew, Juneteenth, Holiday Tree Lighting, Winter Parade, Independence Day, Winterfest, Comedy Nights, Relay for Life Golf Tournament, Egg-ceptional and Saint Patrick’s Day.
The proposal does identify areas for potential revenue recovery, including increasing property-tax millage rates, raising certain fees, eliminating some fee waivers and creating special assessment districts for roads, sidewalks and streetscaping.
“You may have been paying zero taxes before if you’re a fully disabled veteran, but if we create a fire fee, now you’re going to have a fire fee to pay,” Sladek said. “But that can raise a lot of revenue.”
Oviedo City Council will discuss this Monday, Aug. 31, at 5:30 p.m. in its work session.