Volusia Matters Podcast

Jayson Meyer’s plans for the new Fountainhead Innovation Center……just north of Destination Daytona….I-95 / US 1 interchange in Ormond…. building is coming together….. If your business is looking to relate or expand OR if you know of another business looking to open….. I wanted to remind you that Jayson has different types of office space available… Details regarding square footage and type a business can be discussed. Call me at 566-2140 and I'd be glad to arrange a tour.

Amendment 3 offers Fla homeowners a larger exemption from non-school property taxes: it goes from the current $50 K to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. It needs 60% voter approval….2 separate Sept polls show support ranging from 45 to 55%, AND a recent Stetson University poll at 56% AND an Edge/MDW poll at 50% support…. The debate is therefore about both potential household savings and the effect on local services.

Amendment 1 to expand the state's budget stabilization fund…… 46% support.

Amendment 2 to provide agricultural property-tax exemptions….56% support.

With 23% undecided on each State amendment.

DB City Commission approved adding manufactured housing to the City’s 2026–2029 Local Housing Assistance Plan….it would help mobile-home owners and renters and support housing stability.

Biketoberfest 2026 runs TODAY, October 15 to Sunday, October 18. Traffic is expected to increase during the rally. Friday and Saturday may be the busiest days, especially around Main St and Destination Daytona.

53rd ANNUAL DAYTONA TURKEY RUN is Nov 25 - 29…Wednesday – Saturday 8am. – 4pm and Sunday 8 am – 2 pm.

South Daytona approved a $45,000 contract amendment to add a berm at Reed Canal Park… part of a renovation funded partly by a County ECHO grant.

First Step Shelter Board……

Oct 13 — School Board meeting:

Oct 15 — County’s Planning Land Development Regulation Commission (PLDRC) reviews the data-center ban (Council’s first reading passed 7-0 on Oct 6). Factors to be considered include power water business estimate

Oct 20 — County council final vote on the data-center ban.

Oct 22 — Deltona State of the City (chamber event) with Mayor Santiago Avila, Jr.

US Sept inflation increased 0.6% from August.....annual inflation rate jumped from 3.4% to 3.7%

Gas prices jumped 9.1%.....a big impact on this monthly increase along with rising housing costs and other expenses…..

Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, increased 0.3% monthly and 2.6% annually.

Inflation outpaced wage growth for 6 consecutive months, adding to consumer affordability concerns.

The latest report complicates the Federal Reserve’s efforts to reach its 2% inflation target. Stocks fell, Treasury yields climbed, and the dollar strengthened following this report.

REMINDER…early voting is Oct 19 - 31…8 AM to 6 PM including weekends. See the county election website OR Volusia Matters newsletter for poll locations. All voters can vote anywhere in the county during this time……and your vote counts back in your homes’ district.

Kristin Weiss just celebrated her one year anniversary as President/CEO of Daytona Regional Chamber

Nation’s $40 trillion national debt….. is a warning that persistent borrowing is adding to the nation’s obligations and deserves a bipartisan plan to put the budget on a sustainable path. FY 2026 federal deficit was about $1.85 trillion (Congressional Budget Office’s estimate) ~$218 billion more than in FY 2025

Community Commentator John Nicholson spoke of….. 

Podcast News Topics

The new Fountainhead Innovation Center located just north of destination Daytona….at the I95 / US 1 interchange in Ormond…. The building is coming together….. Jayson Meyer has different types of office space available… Details regarding square footage and type a business can be discussed. If your business is looking to relocate or expand, call me at 566-2140 and I'd be glad to arrange a tour.

Oct 1 local budgets…….see all tax rates and new year budgets in Volusia Matters newsletter……

Oct 6 - County Council……

Port Orange City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding negotiated with their Firefighters Union

Ormond City Commission addressed several resolutions pertaining to city employee healthcare.

Deltona City Commission addressed an ordinance to update their Land Development Code to match changes to Florida’s Live Local Act.

Deland City Commission

I’d like to thank WSBB GM/Announcer Ammie Ryan for hosting our recent issue programs.

October 7…..political forecasters are seeing Democrat momentum in the House, while the Senate remains closely contested. Republicans currently hold a 220–215 House advantage, and Democrats need a net gain of 3 seats. In the Senate, Republicans hold 53-47 majority…..so Democrats need to 4 seats to win that majority.

US added 29,000 jobs in September, fewer than economists expected. Unemployment was 4.2%, with about 7.1 million people unemployed.

Volusia…..Votes by Mail to Date 10/7……Total Votes by Mail Returned 9,031….Democrats 3,406…..Republicans 3,475…Other Parties 299…NPAs 1,851

Volusia School District’s Audit Committee will meet Thursday, October 15, 10:30 AM at Facilities Services Bldg purpose is to review recent audit findings, discuss FY 2027 Risk Assessment, and consider audit priorities and planning activities for the upcoming fiscal year.  

US Senate has passed the Protect College Sports Act 77-22 that would create national rules for college athletics and Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) payments. (Sen Ashley Moody voted YES/Sen Rick Scott voted NO). It would give college athletes a clear federal right to earn money from their NIL

Daytona Regional Chamber Advocacy Director Drake Wyman spoke about the Chamber’s role in expressing the business view on issues in Volusia, Tallahassee and Washington….

Progress is happening every day at the new Fountainhead Innovation Center at the US 1/I-95 interchange, north of Destination Daytona. If your business is looking for new office space, call me at 566-2140 for a tour……

Oct 1 is the first day of local entities’ new FY 2026-27 budget. Everything has been finalized with all the budget hearings this past month. See NEXT WEEK’s VM newsletter for each city, county, school board’s general fund/tax rate. Some went to rollback and others had a slight tax increase.

Sept 28…. WSBB’s Ammie Ryan and Volusia Matters hosted broadcast regarding Volusia Charter Adm #5 pertaining to conservation lands registry. Environmental Commentator Catherine Pante spoke against amendment 5 and Attorney/Charter Review Chair Mark Watts spoke in support.

Next issue forum….Tuesday, Oct 6, 8:30 to 9 AM regarding State Constitution Adm #3 pertaining to homestead tax exemption.

Florida Vote-by-Mail ballots were provided ~1.9 m….to date, 15k were returned            

Of that Volusia Vote-by-Mail ballots were provided ~69 k…to date, 592 were returned mail

Early voting in Volusia….. Oct 19 - 31 that includes weekends…. 8 AM to 6 PM... Look for early voting sites on county election page or Volusia Matters newsletter….basically community centers and libraries throughout the county….. One important note is that you can vote anywhere in the county during this time…..

Sept 27–29, Mayor Derrick Henry outlined a new push to revitalize the Boardwalk area, including the city-owned property at 29 S Ocean Ave, near the pier and existing entertainment district.

The city hopes to attract year-round entertainment, family activities, jobs, and tourism while encouraging area property owners to make improvements. The goal is to restore the Boardwalk as a destination for residents and visitor

The Mayor ALSO wants to look at how Main Street can connect across the river to Beach St downtown.

SEV Chamber hosted a candidates’ forum last night with candidates from new Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, Oak Hill, County Council and legislature.

Volusia School District proposed an enhanced compensation package during Sept 22 contract negotiations with VUE to attract, retain, and support employees. The proposal includes a $3 retention-pay increase, 2% higher supplements, a 1.05% cost-of-living adjustment for all bargaining-unit members, and additional salary increases based on experience. Negotiations continue October 6, balancing employee support with financial stability.

Sheriff Mike Chitwood recently swore in 12 new deputies who have completed their New Deputy Training program. Many came with prior years of service with other law enforcement agencies across the county, state and country as well as military service.

County will hold two free household hazardous waste collection events October 9 at Ormond Beach Public Works, and October 10 at New Smyrna Beach Public Works.

Volusia County's Purchasing and Contracts Division has received a 2026 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Procurement Institute…..its 18th award since 2003.

SunRail commuter train daily average ridership for June to August was 5,516……greater than those months in 2025 and 2024.

While Brightline’s PARENT company recently entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the company operating the Miami-to-Orlando trains is OK. Their trains continue running, with ridership increasing 14% and revenue increasing 17% in August over a year ago..

The bigger question is what happens to future expansion. Brightline still plans to pursue an Orlando-to-Tampa extension that could connect with the planned Sunshine Corridor and SunRail system.

Space Florida continues to invest in launch facilities, aerospace manufacturing, and commercial space infrastructure at Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center, thereby supporting the Space Coast economy, including Volusia.

Interview School Bd member Krista Goodrich, Dist 2/Vice Chair discussed……

the district’s Career/Technical Education program

the aviation/aerospace CTE program at Atlantic HS

the District’s FY 2026-27 budget

Podcast News Topics

Progress is happening every day at the new Fountainhead Innovation Center at the US 1/I-95 interchange, north of Destination Daytona. If your business is looking for new office space, call me at 566-2140 for a tour……

Local entities are hosting budget hearing through the end of the month on proposed budgets and tax rates for FY 2026-27.  Check out pages 1-4 of VM newsletter to see what numbers are being considered.

WSBB and Volusia Matters broadcast regarding Volusia Charter Adm 5 pertaining to conservation lands registry will be Tuesday, Sept 29, 8:30 to 9:00 AM with Environmental Commentator Catherine Pante speaking against Amendment 5 with Attorney/Charter Review Chair Mark Watts speaking in support. Tune In to 12:30 AM or 106.7 FM. Our host will be WSBB general manager Ammie Ryan.

TEAM Volusia Board of Directors met September 18

Central Florida Commuter Rail Customer Advisory Committee (CAC) will meet Thursday, October 1, 5 PM at the Lynx Admin Bldg in downtown Orlando…… Details will be reported in the October VM newsletter.

Volusia voters can request vote-by-mail ballots for the November 3 election via online, phone, email, mail, or in person. Requests need personal details and signature. Request deadline is October 22 at 5:00 PM.. Officials suggest mailing ballots by October 26 so completed ballots arrive by November 3 at 7:00 PM…Drop boxes are available at designated locations.

Volusia’s July Bed tax collections on short-term rentals were up 1.37% countywide ($1.50 M for 2025 to $1.52 M for 2026)

NASCAR moving its summer Daytona International Speedway races from July to the end of August has paid off. While July remains one of the year’s top tourism months, the area now sees a lot more visitors in August despite schools starting back.

Daytona Beach Area CVB will host Tourism Partner Day on Thursday, October 8…at the PMR Daytona Beach Club at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Bryan Griffin, President & CEO of VISIT FLORIDA will be the keynote speaker. No cost to attend but you MUST RSVP by calling 255-0415.

This week in Washington……..Congress is focusing on spending, trade, transportation, regulation, and the economy. Now that Congress has approved a temporary continuing “band aid” resolution, Congress must decide whether to approve the FY 2027 spending bills before the next government shutdown deadline…Dec 11. Senate is considering legislation about college sports and NIL payments. Congress is preparing for a funding debate.

US House recently passed National Fraud Enforcement Division Act and Tax Relief for Fraud Victims Act

Both bills now move to the Senate.

Comments by FBH Communities’ Exec Director Mica Lill…

Daytona Regional Chamber’s 2026 Annual Awards ceremony will be Wednesday, Sept. 30, 4 to 6 PM at the Renaissance Daytona Beach Oceanfront Hotel.

Longtime State legislator and County Council member Pat Patterson passed away earlier this week.

Gov DeSantis awarded over $10 million in bonuses to 1,500 new law enforcement officers.

Interview with Lake Helen Mayor Roger Eckert discussed…

Podcast News Topics

Progress is happening every day at the new Fountainhead Innovation Center at the US 1/I-95 interchange, north of Destination Daytona. If your business is looking for new office space, call me at 566-2140 for a tour……

Local entities are hosting budget hearing through the end of the month on proposed budgets and tax rates for FY 2026-27.  Check out pages 1-4 of VM newsletter to see what numbers are being considered.

Sept 14 - Edgewater City Council…..

Sept 14 - Elected Officials Roundtable met to discuss current issues of common interest……

Sept 14 - First Step Shelter Bd met to update on current activities……it was first official meeting for their new exec Susan Clark……shelter had 60 intakes in August…plus 96 individuals in the Rose Ann Tornatore safe zone…

Sept 15 - PO City Council approved their FY 2027 stormwater utility assessment roll and kept existing fee rates unchanged. The assessment roll lists properties subject to the fee, which will be collected through annual property tax bills.

Sept 22 - County Council will take up a joint project agreement with City of Daytona Beach on Harvey Ave Beach Approach Improvements. City Daytona Beach and the County will combine Boardwalk and Harvey Ave beach ramp improvements into one project.

County’s Emergency Management Dept recently hosted a Healthcare Summit to connect healthcare providers, fire depts to share experiences, discuss how they can better collaborate during hurricanes, etc

Sept 18 - Team Volusia Bd meets tomorrow and will report on business prospects there seeking to locate in the county. VM will report on that meeting in next week’s podcast.

Sept 16 - US Federal Reserve raised its interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point moving the federal funds target range from 3.50%–3.75% to 3.75%–4.00%……the Fed’s first rate increase since July 2023.

The interest rate on the 10-year Treasury note has climbed to just over 5%....its highest level in almost 20 years. It’s due to concerns about inflation, higher oil prices and expectations of this week’s Federal Reserve Bd meeting.

Estimated Tax Schedule. Last estimated quarterly tax payment was due Sept 15…..and the fourth estimated quarterly payment for 2026 is January 15, 2027. See October VM newsletter for a complete schedule…..

Interview with Ponce Inlet Mayor Lois Paritsky

Progress is happening every day at the new Fountainhead Innovation Center at the US 1/I-95 interchange, north of Destination Daytona. If your business is looking for new office space, call me at 566-2140 for a tour……

Sept 1 budget hearing, County Council’s proposed 2026–27 budget would increase Fire Rescue funding by nearly 3%, from ~ $81.8 million to ~$84 million...Council is moving forward with a net budget is ~$1.06 billion. Property taxes provide $455.5 million (42.8% of net revenue). Final budget hearing is September 22.

DB City Commission plans to change retirement benefits for police officers and firefighters retiring after October 1.

Sept 9 - With NSB Sports Complex use/expenses increasing, NSB City Commission looking to increase fees to raise revenue by $10,000 to cover expenses tied to inflation rates.

Deltona City Commission took up Fla Dept of Environmental Protection and St Johns River WMD supporting Deltona’s aquifer recharge project via a 50/50 grant to build a recharge well and two monitoring wells

Sept 9 - DB Shores City Commission adopted a 2026 Vulnerability Assessment created by the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council and by Fla’s Resilient Florida Program

Sept 9 - Deland City Commission addressed an ordinance to change water, sewer, and reclaimed-water rates by resolution and remove account maintenance fees and include those costs in monthly base charges

Sept 9 - DeBary City Council discussed FY 2027-28 budget requirements pursuant to HB 1329 Local Government Financial Transparency/Accountability Act

On September 30…

2026 US midterm elections choose all 435 members of the House and about 35 members of the Senate…Biggest fight for control of the US House. Current make Up of US House is 218 Republicans—214 Democrats  - 1 Independent—2 Vacancies

Fla’s gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe is still active….2021 compact gives the Seminoles exclusive control over certain types of gambling, including online sports betting. Hard Rock Bet remains the only traditional online sportsbook operating statewide.

The newest challenge comes from prediction-market companies such as Kalshi

Interview with Edgewater Mayor Diezel Depew

Progress is happening every day at the new Fountainhead Innovation Center at the US 1/I-95 interchange, north of Destination Daytona. If your business is looking for new office space, call me at 566-2140 for a tour……

County Council has first public hearing TODAY on tentative budget and millage rates for FY 2026-27. Other local entities will begin hosting their public budget hearings next week.

Sept 1 - PO City Council ratified contract agreements with 2 of their Police Unions…..

DB Mayor Derrick Henry wants residents to have access to the state’s audit report. Fla’s Auditor General’s report is still being reviewed by state officials and is expected to arrive soon

Recap of Aug 26 TPO meeting by Exec Colleen Nicoulin

Aug 10 - FDOT’s press conference announced a partnership with ERAU to train students for careers in Advanced Air Mobility

Volusia Elected Officials Roundtable to meet Monday Sept 14, 9 AM Daytona Intl Airport……to discuss local issues that affect the entire county…

US House just returned from its August recess with legislative business and votes scheduled throughout the week…major issue to watch is federal government funding…US Senate to resume work Sept 14…..

US economy is still growing, but losing strength….Second-quarter growth was 1.5%, lower than the first quarter’s 2.1%

Florida’s economy remains strong compared with many states, but its rapid growth has slowed

Interview with Sheriff Mike Chitwood

Here are the latest Volusia County updates covering economic development, election results, local government decisions, public projects, schools, taxes and community services.

Fountainhead Innovation Center Expands

Volusia County Economic Outlook

Volusia County Primary Election Results

Volusia County Bans Large AI Data Centers

New Smyrna Beach Reviews Building-Permit Changes

Volusia ECHO Projects Move Through Review

Daytona Beach City Commission Update

Appointed William Robinson to the Housing Authority Commission.

Approved relocating Volusia EMS to a new site on West Mason Avenue.

Adjusted building-permit fees to reflect processing and service costs.

Extended a temporary parking-lot permit near the Daytona Beach Boardwalk for two years.

Volusia County Targets Illegal Dumping

U.S. Treasury Bond Buybacks

U.S. Trade Deficit

U.S. National Debt

Volusia County School District Meetings

Port Orange Water-System Maintenance

Florida Amendment 3 and the Homestead Exemption

Daytona Regional Chamber to host a luncheon regarding Fla’s Property Tax Adm 3 on Sept 1, 11 AM - 1 PM at Halifax River Yacht Club. It’ll explore Fla's Property Tax Future…. potential effects of Adm 3. 

Panel members…. Sen Jeff Brandes (Fla Policy Project), George Recktenwald and Ryan Ossowski (Volusia County), Michael Chambliss (Daytona Beach) Government will discuss Adm 3’s projected effect on local budgets/residents and business owners. 

Advanced Registration is $35 (until August 25)…..$50 at that….

Non-member registration is $70 regardless of registration date. 

For more details, contact Chamber’s Advocacy Director Drake Wyman at 255.7174 or [email protected]

Fountainhead Innovation Center Update……

Jayson Meyer has exciting things happening at the NEW Fountainhead Innovation Center….located just north of Destination Daytona at the US 1 / I – 95 interchange.

The facility will have a limited number of smaller office suites available for businesses, entrepreneurs, and organizations to locate.

It’ll also include event space to accommodate up to 250 people….. ideal for corporate meetings, leadership retreats, training events, and other professional gatherings.

There’s lot more coming, so call me 566-2140 for a tour of the facility

Congressional District 7 Candidates Forum was held Aug 5 at Brannon Center, NSB…hosted by Volusia Republican Executive Committee…..Click here to see VM summary of Candidates’ comments regarding issues….

EARLY VOTING RUNs to Saturday August 15….8 am - 6 pm  Click here to see early Voting Sites i.e. libraries/ community centers throughout the County. You CAN VOTE ANYWERE! Live in NSB but work in Ormond? Vote on your lunch hour. 

Primary ballot and candidates in VM newsletter……

City of Daytona Beach has hired Katrina Powell as their new Economic & Strategic Opportunities Director

Holly Hill City Commission - Aug 11

Aug 11 - NSB City Commission addressed Fla legislation regarding building permits/inspections

Aug 18 - Ormond Beach City Commission will have 2nd reading pertaining to a complete ban of data centers

Aug 13 - County’s ECHO Advisory Committee has full-day of site visits/project presentations in Ormond, Holly Hill, Daytona Beach, Pt Orange, NSB, Edgewater, DeBary….proposals include ballfields, parks, piers, museums, nature centers followed by a meeting to ponder each project’s request for funding.

School District’s Half-Cent Sales Tax Committee to meet virtually Thursday, August 27, 4:00 PM…meeting is open to public via Teams HERE

School District’s Bargaining Team and Volusia United Educators (VUE) have an Instructional Staff Bargaining Session

Update on US federal budget for this FY 2026 which ends September 30

Interview - State Rep Bill Partington

New Smyrna Beach and the County both run paid parking programs on coastal parking areas they control.  County uses Park Volusia and vehicle registration databases and license plate reader technology while the City has its own system and database for annual pass holders, plus daily parking fees. They’re forming an interlocal agreement would let annual City OR County pass holders park in the other place’s lots interchangeably.

DB City Commission ……

Port Orange City Council …..

Ormond Beach City Commission……

Deltona City Commission…..

Edgewater City Council….took up proposed charter amendments to expand number of city council members, ban data center, require referendum on toilet to tap…