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# A Neighbor's Fact Check: What the Record Shows
- URL: https://www.iloveoviedowintersprings.com/fact-check-what-the-record-really-shows/
- Published: 2026-10-23T14:12:03.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T14:12:03.000Z
- Description: A Winter Springs neighbor checks the District 2 interview claims against the public record: stormwater, grants, reclaimed water, the Super Walmart and the budget.
- Author: I Love Oviedo Winter Springs
- Tags: city commission, ken spalthoff, winter springs

Like a lot of you, we watched the candidate interviews Oviedo Community News posted this week. In the District 2 race, Commissioner Victoria Bruce's opponent made some big claims about Winter Springs. We looked up the public record on a few of them, and here's what I found.

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## What the record shows

- **Stormwater rate study:** A full study was done. The fee had not changed in about 20 years, so the city made one interim increase while a consultant studied it. The new rates are built on that study, dated April 1, 2026\. Sources: [Ord. 2025-11](https://weblink.winterspringsfl.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?dbid=0&id=2693581&repo=WinterSprings&ref=iloveoviedowintersprings.com) and [Ord. 2026-01](https://weblink.winterspringsfl.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?dbid=0&id=4772916&repo=WinterSprings&ref=iloveoviedowintersprings.com).
- **Grants:** Winter Springs has brought in more than $18 million that residents never have to pay back, including about $9.58 million forgiven on the city's sewer plant loan. Sources: [Oviedo Community News, Nov. 12, 2025](https://oviedocommunitynews.org/2025/11/12/florida-dep-awards-winter-springs-more-than-19m-for-wastewater-projects-slated-to-start-in-2026/?ref=iloveoviedowintersprings.com) and the [city's press release](https://winterspringsfl.org/DocumentCenter/View/386?ref=iloveoviedowintersprings.com).
- **Reclaimed water:** The city paid for a reclaimed water study in 2024, won $380,000 from the state and $1.03 million from the St. Johns River Water Management District, and put a new reclaimed water main on Michael Blake Boulevard out to bid in 2026 (RFP 05-26-01).
- **The Super Walmart:** It was real. A developer proposed it to the Commission in July 2022, residents spoke up, and it never moved forward. Source: [Oviedo Community News, July 25, 2022](https://oviedocommunitynews.org/2022/07/25/potential-walmart-development-spurs-meeting/?ref=iloveoviedowintersprings.com).
- **The budget:** Florida law requires cities to balance their budgets. This year the Commission trimmed about $434,000 from the proposed budget and lowered the city tax rate to 2.516, and Victoria voted yes. Source: [Oviedo Community News, Aug. 12, 2026](https://oviedocommunitynews.org/2026/08/12/winter-springs-votes-for-property-tax-rate-cut-as-amendment-3-looms/?ref=iloveoviedowintersprings.com).

Don't just take our word for it. Every source is listed at [VictoriaForWinterSprings.com](https://victoriaforwintersprings.com/?ref=iloveoviedowintersprings.com), so you can check them yourself.

**Early voting runs through Nov. 1, 7 AM to 7 PM. Election Day is Nov. 3.**

See you at the polls, neighbors.

*Interview clips: Oviedo Community News, Oct. 22, 2026.*

*Political advertisement paid for and approved by Victoria Bruce, for Winter Springs City Commissioner, District 2.*