What's in Volusia County's proposed $1.06 billion budget? Let's take a look.

Eileen Zaffiro-Kean, The Daytona Beach News-Journal
·5 min read

DELAND — The budget and property tax rates that Volusia County will use in the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 are slated to get final votes next week.

If you want to share an opinion on the 12-month spending plan and the different types of taxes, fees and grants that fund it, the County Council will be holding its final budget hearing at 6 p.m. Sept. 20 on the second floor of the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center, which is located at 123 W. Indiana Ave. in DeLand.

At their meeting last week, County Council members unanimously gave preliminary approval to a $1.06 billion operating budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year and the nine property tax rates controlled by the county. Last year's operating budget was adopted at  $960.99 million.

Next week the Volusia County Council will take a final vote on its new budget and property tax rates. The Council is pictured standing together on the Ocean Center stage. Council members are, from left, Fred Lowry, Ben Johnson, Billie Wheeler, County Chair Jeff Brower, Danny Robins, Heather Post and Barb Girtman.
Next week the Volusia County Council will take a final vote on its new budget and property tax rates. The Council is pictured standing together on the Ocean Center stage. Council members are, from left, Fred Lowry, Ben Johnson, Billie Wheeler, County Chair Jeff Brower, Danny Robins, Heather Post and Barb Girtman.

Unless council members depart from what they decided last week, four of the nine property tax rates will remain the same, although they'll generate more revenue because property values have increased. Under Florida state law, rates that hold steady but raise more money are considered tax increases.

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The other five property taxes are positioned to drop to the rolled-back rate, the rate that would raise the same amount of money as what was collected in the current fiscal year that will end Sept. 30.

Here are some answers to questions about Volusia County's budget.

What are some priorities in the new budget?

Next year’s proposed budget beefs up the firefighter and emergency medical technician ranks. Money will be added for eight EMTs, seven paramedics and two ambulance supply technicians to address needed staffing relief, alternative transport, and both growth and demand for service.

The budget also includes funding for 15 new firefighters in an effort to reduce overtime mandates. Fire Rescue is pursuing a federal grant that would help pay for some of the new positions.

The proposed Volusia County budget for next year includes money to hire 15 new firefighters, relocate two fire stations and buy two new firetrucks.
The proposed Volusia County budget for next year includes money to hire 15 new firefighters, relocate two fire stations and buy two new firetrucks.

Next year’s fire fund also includes money to pay for the relocation of two fire stations and purchase of two fire trucks, an ambulance and 27 replacement cardiac monitors. Plans also are in the works to renovate several other fire stations in future budget years.

Also included in next year’s budget is funding for six corrections officers. This will be the second year of a three-year plan to add 18 new officers.

What are Volusia's nine property taxes?

Volusia County has a countywide property tax and eight additional property taxes that fund the county library system, Municipal Services District, Ponce De Leon Port Authority, Silver Sands Bethune Beach Municipal Services District, Fire Rescue District, Volusia ECHO, Volusia Forever and East Volusia Mosquito Control.

The countywide property tax rate, currently set at $5.38 for every $1,000 of taxable value, is set to go next year to the rolled-back rate of $4.85 for every $1,000 of taxable value.

The countywide property tax goes into the general fund, the largest fund in the county budget.

Currently proposed at $374.3 million, the general fund is the main source of funding for the Sheriff's Office, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, Supervisor of Elections and Clerk of Court. The General Fund also provides funding for Beach Safety, the Volusia County Branch Jail, Medical Examiner's Office, Emergency Management, Fire Services, Emergency Medical Services, Community Redevelopment Agencies and various community programs.

If the $4.85 rate is approved, this will be the fifth consecutive year that the county’s general fund tax rate has gone down, bringing the rate to the lowest it's been in nearly 15 years.

Are any other Volusia property tax rates decreasing?

The property tax charges for the library fund, Municipal Services District, Ponce De Leon Port Authority and Silver Sands Bethune Beach Municipal Services District are also slated to go to the rolled-back rate next year.

The second phase of Blue Heron Nature Preserve Park received a $220,000 grant from Volusia County's ECHO program. The first phase of the park is accessible at 1841 Springwood Lane in Deltona.
The second phase of Blue Heron Nature Preserve Park received a $220,000 grant from Volusia County's ECHO program. The first phase of the park is accessible at 1841 Springwood Lane in Deltona.

The voter-approved Volusia ECHO and Volusia Forever taxes, as well as the tax rates for the Fire Rescue District and East Volusia Mosquito Control would remain unchanged under the current budget plan, although they could raise more money with rising property values.

While all taxpayers contribute to the county’s general fund, library fund and Volusia ECHO and Volusia Forever funds, a property’s location determines whether any of the other property taxes are assessed.

How much are the rest of the tax rates?

The Library Fund tax rate is currently about 52 cents for every $1,000 of taxable value, and it's slated to drop to 46 cents. The Municipal Service District property tax rate is set to drop from $2.10 to $1.87, and the Ponce De Leon Port Authority charge is positioned to go from a little over 8 cents to just over 7 cents.

The Silver Sands Bethune Beach Municipal Service District tax rate is expected to drop from a little over 1 cent to closer to 1 cent even.

The remaining four tax rates are currently budgeted to remain the same in the next fiscal year: $3.84 for the Fire Rescue District tax; 20 cents for Volusia ECHO; 20 cents for Volusia Forever and close to 18 cents for East Volusia Mosquito Control.

You can reach Eileen at Eileen.Zaffiro@news-jrnl.com

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia County ready to vote on budget for 2022-2023: Analysis