Winter Springs Commissioner Asks for Cost Comparison on Police and Parks

A Winter Springs city commissioner is asking for a formal look at how much the city spends on police and parks, and how that compares with other ways of providing those services, including turning law enforcement over to the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.

Commissioner Paul Diaz made the request during a recent meeting. City spending on police and parks was described there as totaling $13.5 million. Diaz asked for an analysis that would set those costs beside what the city's budget might look like if they were no longer carried on its books.

"I'd like to see a comparison between basically half of our budget, which at this point is police and parks," Diaz said.

The request comes while local governments weigh how Amendment 3 could affect the property-tax revenue they depend on. Seminole County officials have said the county could lose more than 20% of its tax revenue if the amendment passes.

Mayor Kevin McCann responded by asking whether Diaz was proposing to get rid of the police department and parks. In the course of the discussion, it was clarified that the city was being asked to examine the cost of contracting with the county for police services. No decision has been made to eliminate any city services.

How Amendment 3 would affect local services, and what the alternatives would cost, remains uncertain.

Winter Springs commissioners are expected to take up Diaz's cost-comparison request at an upcoming meeting. It is not yet clear whether they will direct city staff to prepare the analysis.