When I was first elected, one of the early conversations I had was with Police Chief Matthew Tracht about the state of the city’s pension plan for officers. It was something he felt strongly about, and it stuck with me. I am glad that after working through the process, we were able to get this done for him and his team.
At our recent City Commission meeting, commissioners approved four changes to the Winter Springs Police Department’s pension plan. These changes reflect our commitment to supporting the men and women who keep our community safe and to remaining competitive with sister cities across Seminole County and the state.
What Changed
The most significant change is a new normal retirement eligibility provision that allows officers to retire with full benefits after 30 years of service, regardless of age. Previously, officers were required to be at least 65 years old in addition to having 30 years of service to collect full benefits. That requirement has now been removed.
Additional changes include increasing the maximum accrued benefit from 30 years of accrual service to 99 percent of average final compensation, and increasing the maximum hours of pensionable overtime from 150 to 300 hours per plan year for hourly employees.
What It Costs
The changes are expected to cost the city approximately $184,000 more annually, or $4.7 million over 30 years. It is worth noting that the city’s pension fund is currently 100 percent funded, meaning the city can afford all of its obligations. This is not a plan in distress. It is a plan being strengthened from a position of financial stability.
Why It Matters
The Winter Springs Police Department has done outstanding work. Crime in Winter Springs has declined for three consecutive years, with reported incidents falling from 860 in 2023 to 698 in 2025. That kind of result does not happen without dedicated leadership and a committed team.
Supporting law enforcement means more than recognizing their work publicly. It means making sure the city remains competitive in recruiting and retaining quality officers. A strong pension plan is part of that commitment.
I support our law enforcement through and through, and we will always do everything we can to be competitive with our sister cities. The goal is to maintain not only the safest city, but the best police force in Seminole County, and a department we can all be proud of.
Victoria Bruce
Winter Springs Commissioner, District 2
Protecting Winter Springs
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