By Commissioner Victoria Bruce, Winter Springs District 2
At our recent Tuscawilla Lighting and Beautification District Advisory Committee meeting, the conversation focused on more than medians, fountains, and mulch. It centered around the pressing need to address an aging infrastructure, decades of deferred updates, and how we ensure our district reflects the pride we all have in calling Tuscawilla home.
It’s Time to Catch Up
During the meeting, Mayor Kevin McCann briefly addressed the committee to acknowledge the financial challenges facing the district. While his remarks acknowledged the importance of the board’s role, it’s clear that the circumstances we’re in today stem in part from years of inaction and postponed improvements. As it stands, this board is being asked to make up for lost time while still respecting the financial limitations of our residents.
The truth is, the current budget is stretched thin. The assessment cap has not increased since 2007, despite inflation and rising maintenance costs. We’re now looking at a fund balance of just $14,000, which leaves little room for emergencies or meaningful progress.
What We’re Facing Today
Our community is experiencing visible signs of neglect:
- Lights are out at key entry monuments and throughout the neighborhood
- Streetlight poles are mismatched or missing tops
- Landscaping is declining, and irrigation has been unreliable
- The North Fountain remains non-operational, despite past efforts
When maintenance becomes patchwork and not proactive, the community suffers. Residents have stepped in to hand-water plants during dry seasons, and lighting has gone dark during the holidays. These are not small inconveniences. They’re signs of a system long overdue for attention.
Proposals on the Table
A clear-eyed view of the budget and district priorities has brought forward a list of proposed projects:
- Re-landscaping 23 medians in phases, prioritizing the most deteriorated
- Updating irrigation systems and addressing long-overlooked fertilization needs
- Repainting and repairing 123 streetlight and signage poles
- Replacing equipment at both fountains and restoring them to full functionality
- Exploring an extension of community walls to improve uniformity and privacy along major roads
Additionally, we are reviewing lighting infrastructure to ensure all entry monuments and signs are properly illuminated moving forward.
These needs are not new. What’s new is a sense of urgency to finally do something about them.
Funding the Future
City staff are working with consultants to complete a rate study. This study will evaluate what a responsible adjustment to the current $128 annual assessment could look like. The purpose is not to overburden homeowners. It’s to bring the district up to a standard residents have always expected and deserve. These changes will be guided by resident input and handled with full transparency.
Where We Go from Here
We’re planning:
- A special meeting to review rate study findings
- A public hearing this summer for community feedback
- A commitment to only proceed with what is reasonable and beneficial
Our Community, Our Choice
I have always stood for transparent, fiscally responsible government. This process is about putting Tuscawilla residents first, not just keeping up appearances. If we want a community that reflects our pride and care, we must make informed decisions now and ensure this board isn’t left with the same difficult choices five or ten years from now.
We have work to do, but I believe in our ability to do it together—with clarity, fairness, and focus on what really matters.
Email: victoria@victoriaforwintersprings.com
Website: www.victoriaforwintersprings.com
