Winter Springs freezes hiring as Florida property tax amendment looms
WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. —
Winter Springs has frozen hiring across most of its general fund departments as the city braces for potential revenue losses tied to Florida’s Amendment 3.
Winter Springs Mayor Kevin McCann said the city is already preparing for a future with reduced funding.
“That will be an issue. Staffing will very clearly be affected,” McCann said.
The City Manager informed commissioners Monday night that all departments supported by the general fund are now under a hiring freeze.
“There would still be active recruiting because with anything, you’ll have people who leave or retirements or something along those lines. You want to make sure that you still have that pool to pull from. But as far as expanding, those won’t happen,” said Matt Reeser, communications director for the city of Winter Springs.
The freeze affects departments such as finance, administrative services, communications, human resources, development services, and the police department.
“The hiring freeze is strictly for those employees, which is also roughly about 160 full-time employees here in the city,” Reeser said.
He added that three positions within the police department have been identified and will not be filled.
The city estimates a loss of approximately $4.2 million per year if Amendment 3 moves forward. This could be particularly challenging for Winter Springs, where more than 70% of the city consists of homesteaded residential properties.
“We’re going to be hit uniquely hard with this, and we also have the lowest taxes, which adds to that,” McCann said.
The mayor said commissioners will re-evaluate the hiring freeze after Nov. 3, when voters decide on Amendment 3.