Mayor Kevin McCann really, really, really DOESN’T WANT your taxes lowered. In an after-hours rant which generated comments late into the evening, the embattled Mayor with a history of making misstatements about city finances before state auditors and using the city credit card for personal travel threatened to shut down everything from the Senior Center to all of the city’s parks if voters decide to lower their taxes.
The message was simple: not only will the Senior Center be closed, “and every other park”, but he will also stop the grass from being cut, cancel Babe Ruth, the July 4th Fireworks show and, for good measure, he may personally tear out “every set of swing sets, slides or other children’s playground equipment in our community.”
Because, if you guys choose to lower your taxes, then the children and seniors must suffer the consequences!
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Then the comments happened and residents started asking questions….
❓ Is city property tax revenue up dramatically from just a few years ago?
❓ What additional services did residents receive in exchange?
❓ Why is the first answer always “close the parks”?
❓ Are there really no other spending reductions available?
Then came the wastewater discussion…
Residents pointed out that infrastructure problems often become much more expensive when they aren’t addressed early.
Then came the budget discussion…
Residents began listing projects they believed should be reviewed before threatening parks, events, and senior services.
Then came the philosophical discussion…
“Why do we keep paying taxes forever on property we’ve already purchased?”
Then came the political discussion…
“Why does every conversation about government savings start with cutting the most popular things?”
Here are a few comments from your neighbors demanding answers for why the Mayor is against lowering our taxes:
Our personal favorite comment:
💬 “Show increase in each area and what extra service was provided from 2019 to 2026.”
Ouch.
What began as a warning about property tax reform quickly turned into a community-wide conversation about spending priorities, accountability, infrastructure planning, and whether local government has become too expensive.
Whether you support the proposal or oppose it, one thing is clear:
Winter Springs residents have questions.
And they aren’t shy about asking them.
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As always, WSCA encourages residents to read the proposals for themselves, review the city’s budget, and make up their own minds.
Democracy is alive and well in Winter Springs.