WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. — Winter Springs has received $19 million for infrastructure, but has only spent $9.8 million of that money since 2014, Channel 9 has learned.
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City officials said once the audit is completed by the county, it will show the money was spent properly. However, Channel 9 found that the infrastructure money was spent on police cars and equipment and other things not on their list of proposed projects.
The money and how it has been spent has been the focus of an audit by Seminole County, which started after question arose over several bridges that failed during Hurricane Ian last year.
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According to the proposed list of projects, nearly $4 million was requested for bridge repair and replacement back in 2014.
Commissioner Jay Zembower said there are other questions he hopes the audit explains, such as the use of more than $400,00 to fund new police vehicles and equipment in 2020. There is also a $2 million transfer to the water and sewer utility.
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Much of what was spent on new roofs at City Hall and the police station, generators and parking lots, which are not on the project list.
“I believe once this audit is done and the city has a chance to present all the the information to the county, I think what you’ll see is the city is well within following the rules and how they do things and how it’s accounted for,” city spokesman Matthew Reeser told Channel 9.
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