Local Politics · Winter Haven, FL
Winter Haven Commissioners Approve $377.2M FY2027 Budget, Keep Millage Rate at 6.59
On Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, Winter Haven city commissioners voted 4–1 to adopt a $377,158,764 budget for Fiscal Year 2027, maintaining the millage rate at 6.5900 mills. The general fund rises approximately 8 percent to $86,135,247, with $19.3 million allocated to police, $18.5 million to fire, and $14.78 million to parks and recreation. Commissioner Chad Davis cast the sole dissenting vote on both the budget and millage rate, proposing a rollback to 6.3888 mills funded by drawing $1 million from the city's unassigned fund balance; his amendment failed 1–4. Mayor Brian Yates countered that the proposed savings would amount to roughly $50 for a $250,000 home and argued against tapping emergency reserves absent unforeseen circumstances. The city's taxable property values grew 4.97 percent to $5.61 billion, with new construction contributing $164.8 million of that increase.