Message From the Wildwood City Manager Jason McHugh

Submitted by: Jason McHugh, Wildwood City Manager

Budget season is well underway, and the City of Wildwood is working to develop the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget with a continued focus on transparency, strategic planning, and meeting the needs of our growing community.

The proposed FY27 budget will prioritize investments in critical infrastructure, including utility system upgrades and expansion projects designed to increase capacity, improve service reliability, and support environmental sustainability. Maintaining high-quality services while responsibly managing taxpayer dollars remains a key objective throughout the budget process.

An important factor in this year’s budget planning is a proposed constitutional amendment to Florida’s property tax exemptions that is expected to appear on the November 2026 General Election ballot. With the required 60% voter approval, the proposed amendment would increase Florida’s homestead exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. This would significantly reduce the amount of ad valorem taxes the City receives and could impact the level of services provided to the community. The Florida League of Cities (FLC) published a study analyzing a $250,000 homestead exemption relative to the 2025 taxable value for each city in Florida and found that Wildwood’s taxable value would decrease by $2.4 billion, or 29.5%. This would have resulted in a decrease of approximately $6.4 million in ad valorem revenue in FY 26.

Programs and services that could be affected by the reduction in property tax revenues include roadway maintenance and improvements, pavement preservation, stormwater infrastructure, capital improvement projects, recreation programs, and personnel-related expenditures. To prepare for these potential challenges, City staff will present several budget options for Commission consideration during upcoming budget workshops. These discussions will help identify strategies to protect essential services while preserving the City’s long-term financial health.

Resident input is an important part of the budget process. As we work to develop and finalize the Fiscal Year 27 budget, we encourage you to attend our upcoming budget workshops:

• Monday, July 20, 2026
• Monday, August 3, 2026
• Monday, August 17, 2026

All workshops will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will be held at Wildwood City Hall, 100 N. Main Street, Wildwood, Florida 34785.

Sincerely,

Jason McHugh

City Manager

City of Wildwood