A Winter Springs resident recently reached out with a detailed set of questions ahead of the election. This is exactly the kind of research residents should be doing before an election, and I want to answer them directly.
1. Beyond the projects already approved, what will you do to improve water quality and reliability?
Beyond the projects already underway, such as ION Exchange Replacement, new aerators in drinking water plants, new wastewater plants, lift station replacement, and purchase of generators, my focus is on preventive maintenance and replacing aging pipes and lift stations on a planned schedule rather than waiting for failures. I will keep working to protect our drinking water at the source through conservation and responsible growth, and to keep our wastewater capacity ahead of demand so the system is not strained by new development.
2. How will you ensure the new east water treatment facility is completed on time, within budget, and with public oversight?
The contract is under CMAR, which is Construction Manager At Risk, therefore, we are guaranteed a maximum cost of $65.8 million with Wharton Smith.
3. What measurable standards would you publish so residents can judge whether water quality is improving?
I support publishing the information residents need to judge for themselves, in one place that is easy to find. That includes water testing frequency and results, regulatory compliance status, complaint and response-time data, maintenance milestones, and outage history. Much of this data already exists for compliance purposes. My goal is to make it transparent and usable, not buried. https://www.winterspringsfl.org/475/Annual-Drinking-Water-Reports
4. How will you provide prompt notice to residents during a water quality concern or service disruption?
When there is a boil-water advisory, a regulatory violation, a service disruption, or a major project delay, residents should hear about it quickly, and not from a third party. I continue to push for notice through several channels at once, including text, email, the city website, and traditional notice for neighbors who are not online, so no one is left uninformed.
Online Alert Center: Residents can check the Alert Center for active notices and advisories.
Alert Winter Springs: This system uses Everbridge to send mass notifications via voice and text messages. Residents can sign up through the Everbridge portal to receive these alerts.
5. What is your plan to prevent residents from absorbing infrastructure costs through rate increases?
The property tax is set by the millage rate, and I have recently been pushing to roll it back to equal the amount paid last year.
Water and sewer rates are separate. They fund the utility system itself and are tied to actual infrastructure needs. My commitment is that any rate change comes with a clear public explanation of exactly what it pays for, that we pursue grants and low-interest state financing to reduce the burden on ratepayers, and that fees are never used as a hidden substitute for general revenue. Up until last year the Stormwater account was operating in the red and borrowing from the Winter Springs General Fund. We have to have enough money in the separate accounts.
6. Would you support an independent review or public audit of utility operations?
Yes. That is a great idea. Depending on the cost, I would support more independent reviews and regular public audit of utility operations, maintenance, capital spending, compliance, and water quality results. Transparency has been one of my priorities on the commission, and residents deserve verification, not just assurances. Independent review also tends to catch small problems before they become expensive ones.
The City of Winter Springs does currently conduct independent reviews and audits of its utility operations. According to the Master OM&M Agreement, the city retains an independent engineering firm to perform periodic inspections and performance audits. These audits verify water quality testing, equipment performance, and compliance with permits.
Additionally, a comprehensive sufficiency review of water, sewer, and reclaimed water user rates was conducted with the help of a consultant, as authorized in a City Commission agenda from January 24, 2022.
7. How would you prioritize repairs to aging pipes, lift stations, hydrants, and wastewater facilities?
Aging pipes, lift stations, hydrants, and wastewater facilities should come first. I favor a priority schedule, such as a worst-first, data-driven replacement approach, funded before discretionary projects. Growth should not be approved faster than our infrastructure can support it, and I apply that test to every development that comes before us.
8. What accountability should apply if the city fails to meet its milestones or commitments?
Great question. Accountability should be built in from the start, through public milestone reporting, contract terms that hold contractors to their commitments, and a commission willing to press staff and vendors in open session when timelines or standards slip. Elected officials also answer to residents at the ballot box, which is as it should be.
9. What is your position on eliminating property taxes without offsetting increases elsewhere?
I share your concern about any change that simply moves the burden from one line item to another. Eliminating property taxes entirely is a statewide constitutional question rather than a commission decision. However, our first priority is to protect residents from a hidden or heavier burden while preserving core services like public safety, water, and roads. However, the city will lose $2 million the first year and $4 million every year thereafter if the amendment is approved. How we cut costs or reallocate capital is a big question for the entire state of Florida and something our commission will discuss deeply in Q4 of 2026.
10. What steps will you take to maintain or improve public safety without shifting costs onto residents?
Public safety is a core service, and core services come first in how I approach the budget. I will continue to support the staffing, training, and equipment our police, fire, and emergency responders need, and to pursue grants where they are available, rather than shifting those costs onto residents through less visible charges. We recently improved the pension for the police, provided new vehicles, new body cameras, top tier training, and other important resources available to our police to encourage retention of our seasoned professionals. We also want to fully staff our police force to avoid unnecessary overtime costs.
11. What is your overall approach to growth and development?
My approach to growth is that infrastructure comes before approval. Traffic, drainage, utilities, and public safety capacity should be addressed before new projects move forward, not after. I also believe in protecting our neighborhoods and our remaining rural and conservation land, which is why I have supported conservation efforts and responsible planning rather than growth for its own sake. I also support the Rural boundary in Seminole County.
12. What distinguishes you most from a challenger in terms of leadership and readiness to serve?
What I would point to is a consistent record rather than promises. I answer residents directly, and I have been in the room for the budget and infrastructure decisions that shape this city. I know how these systems work and what it takes to keep them reliable and affordable, and I am ready to keep doing that work. I am professional, diligent, and quick to answer questions. As for my opponent, I would simply encourage residents to Google him.
Residents raising these kinds of questions is exactly what keeps local government accountable, and I welcome it. I will keep working on behalf of District 2 with the same transparency and attention to detail reflected in these answers, and I encourage anyone with further questions to reach out directly.
Victoria Bruce Winter Springs City Commissioner, District 2
