Winter Garden City Commission meeting set for Sept. 27

Second Reading: Additional land for city cemetery 

Ordinance No. 18-35 calls for a code amendment that would affect the Winter Garden Cemetery. According to city documents, the code amendment would allow for a 437-lot expansion of the 37-acre cemetery by vacating land previously reserved for roads and parks and instead dedicating it to the 94-year-old cemetery.

FINAL BUDGET HEARING

The city will also make a final vote regarding the adoption of the city's 2018-19 budget and millage rate tonight. This is the second hearing for the city's nearly $39 million budget. The budget is based on a tentative millage rate of 4.50 mils, which is .25 mils higher than the current 4.25 rate. 

Winter Garden City Manager Mike Bollhoefer explained the reason for the slight increase is due to the expected loss of revenue that would result if a state amendment allowing for an additional $25,000 in homestead exemption succeeds in the November ballot. The change would cost the city to lose approximately $750,000 in ad valorem revenue, according to city documents.