Volusia Matters Podcast

Podcast News Topics

The former Wyotech property at Destination Daytona is being transformed into the Fountainhead Innovation Center, spearheaded by Jayson Meyer. While full details are still unfolding, the site is envisioned as a future hub for innovation, offering modern office space for local businesses and builders.

To get a first look, you're invited to Synergy Billing’s 20th Anniversary Celebration April 23, 5–9 PM at Fountainhead Innovation Center at 470 Destination Daytona Lane, Ormond Beach. To RSVP…call/text 386-566-2140

Legislature adjourned its regular session March 13 with unfinished business SO they’ll be back in Tallahassee this month.

Gov DeSantis has already called a special session for April 20–24 to redraw Fla’s Congressional districts as part of a mid-decade map.

With the regular session ending without passing a state budget…. Legislators will return in mid-April to finalize a budget. Possible add-ons tied to budget negotiations include…. property tax relief, education funding…other affordability measures..

Volusia Schools’ Half-Cent Sales Tax……. most recent Financial Report showed it generated ≈ $61 million in revenue.

It was originally projected to generate roughly $45 million annually when approved, but actual collections are higher due to population growth and tourism activity.  About ~35% of collections come from tourists

April 1 - DB City Commission

April 7 – County Council will have a mini-budget workshop on how the County uses property taxes/other general revenues to fund Growth & Resource Management so it can plan how the community develops and grows. 

April 7 - NSB Mayor Fred Cleveland will deliver their 2026 State of the City Address, 6 PM Brannon Center…. Doors open at 5:30 PM

2nd Annual Volusia Innovation Challenge winners…

Organized by Volusia Business Resources, the event serves as a platform to provide local entrepreneurs with the funding, mentoring and networking needed to scale their businesses

Daytona State College is launching a new AS aviation maintenance management degree this Fall (upon FAA approval).

Open house…Thursday, April 9, 5:30 - 7 PM at ERAU Bldg 340

Earlier this week, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s message was……don’t overreact to oil. Despite rising energy costs fueled by the Iran war, the Fed sees no immediate need to hike rates. In other words, we expect inflation to stabilize and that the Fed’s current 3.5-3.75 rate is good for now.

Gov DeSantis renewed Fla’s state of emergency over illegal immigration. Originally declared in Jan 2023, it expired last week so he extended it for another 60 days.

Podcast News Topics

Jayson Meyer and his group have been working on the Fountainhead Innovation Center…April 23….Synergy Billing is celebrating 20 years, and they’re doing it out there at the NEW building (formerly Wyotech)… 5 to 9 PM….it’ll be one of the first chances to get a real look at what’s going on.

If you’d like to attend… just text me at 566-2140 and I’ll add you on the list.

March 13 - Legislature adjourned its Regular Session without passing the FY 2026-27 state budget……SO in April, they’ll meet in special session to fulfill this constitutional requirement.

Of 2000 bills filed this Session…..237 sent to the Governor….

Orange City Council adopted the Fla Standard Unsafe Building Abatement Code to set procedures to address dangerous or dilapidated structures.

Holly Hill City Commission updated their building permit, land development and zoning and other fees in order to maintain a sustainable financial plan.   

New Smyrna Beach City Commission had Workshop regarding improvements to intersections and portions of SR 44 from Canal St to I-95.

The Commission also hosted a Strategic Plan meeting to review their 9 strategic priority themes from 2025 and will discuss new strategic initiatives for 2026. Their 2026 State of the City presentation to be held April 7 at the Brannon Center.

Preview of upcoming Jeep Beach Event by Charlene Greer

Volusia School District Bargaining Team and  Volusia United Educators (VUE) had a TSP Bargaining Session

SBA is offering low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to Volusia small businesses/nonprofits impacted by the frost/freeze earlier this year

Congress remains deadlocked as a partial shutdown of DHS has stretched over a month, with the Senate repeatedly failing—multiple times—to pass a funding bill due to disputes over immigration enforcement reforms.

Volusia County Schools’ School Way Cafe (it’s the food service operation) is one of the district’s largest operations providing more than 60,000 students breakfast and lunch at no cost.

Southeast Volusia Manufacturing & Technology Coalition seeking

to locate aerospace industry (NSB Economic Development Director Samantha Bergeron comments)

Fla Financial Snapshot……2025 debt report shows debt reduced to ~$14.6 billion based on Governor/Legislature’s limit new bond issuances and increased pay‑downs.

This week’s Volusia data point… Property tax is based on a property’s assessed value, which is appraised for market value as of January 1 of each year.

Podcast News Topics

Synergy Billing is celebrating 20 years and expanding their headquarters into the former WyoTech building at Destination Daytona. That facility is 93,000 square feet — and Jayson Meyer is looking for good neighbors! Interested? Call us!

March 13 - Legislature adjourned its Regular Session without passing the FY 2026-27 state budget……

March 17 - County Council -

The County has launched a Beach Management Feasibility Study to create a long-term strategy for protecting its coastline.

March 18 - Daytona Beach’s City Commission

March 17 - Port Orange City Council….

Deland City Commission approved an Ordinance regarding e-bikes, micromobility devices and bicycle operation on downtown sidewalks and use of helmets by riders 16-17 years of age

Ormond Beach Mayor Jason Leslie hosts meeting with Cong Randy Fine to discuss local business problems with ADA lawsuits

Gov DeSantis said that Fla has surpassed 10,000 bonuses awarded through the Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Program since it launched in 2022.

Podcast News Topics

Synergy Billing is celebrating 20 years and expanding their headquarters into the former WyoTech building at Destination Daytona. That facility is 93,000 square feet — and Jayson Meyer is looking for good neighbors! Interested? Call us!

March 11 - Legislature will not adjourn its regular 60-day session on time this Friday…lack of agreement on a new FY 2026-27 that starts July 1. $1.4 B gap to whittle down…..when they agree on a final budget, there’s a constitutionally-required 72-hour cooling off period before they can take a final vote.

County Council meets March 17…on the agenda….

Recap of Volusia Elected Officials Roundtable

Recap of Volusia Charter Review Commission

Volusia Sheriff's Office seized 225 illegal gambling machines and $97,000 in cash as part of 'Operation Reel of Fortune' ….an illegal gambling operations investigation that covered were Volusia, Flagler, Brevard, and Duval.

Fla Citizen Initiatives for 2026 Constitutional amendment…

Dept of State announced that no of active constitutional amendment citizen‑initiative met requirements to appear on the 2026 general election ballot — no initiative secured the required 880,00 verified signatures by the February 1 legal deadline.

Federal Reserve Bd meets next week March 17–18..most economists expect it’ll be a “wait-and-see” meeting and no change to the current 3.5%–3.75% federal funds rate.

Congress has NOT reached agreement to fund DHS….it is STILL in a partial shutdown mode with many divisions operating without appropriations — including Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Coast Guard, and FEMA — although many of these entities remain working without pay.

In the Senate, Democrats blocked the House funding measure, preventing it from reaching the 60‑vote threshold needed to advance a funding package…want ICE policy reforms

NSB City Commission appointed 5 members to their Economic Development Advisory Board

South Daytona took up an agreement with LTG to design a Traffic Camera Network with funding from FDOT

Synergy Billing is celebrating 20 years and expanding their headquarters into the former WyoTech building at Destination Daytona. That facility is 93,000 square feet — and Jayson Meyer is looking for good neighbors! Interested? Call us!

March 3 - County Council

Recap…week 8 of Legislative Session…..

March 4 - DB City Commission

Reminder - Volusia Elected Officials Roundtable meets Monday, March 9, 9 am at DBIA

Reminder - Volusia Charter Review Commission meets Monday, March 9, 5:30 PM at DBIA

Volusia State of the County reviews 2025 highlights, key initiatives, financial investments, and district-specific priorities

President Trump delivers State of the Union…..key issue highlights….details…..

Florida Legislative Session……Week 7 Issues….Details……

Feb 20 - Economic Development Q breakfast…..Deltona Economic Development Director John Cox highlighted investment/development activity in Volusia cities…….Volusia Economic Development Director Lou Paris reports on Volusia’s employment rates, commercial/resident building permits

Volusia Schools Career & Technical Education… CTE is a district-wide program designed to help middle/high school students build job-ready skills, earn industry certifications, and prepare for college or careers in high-wage and high-demand fields

City of New Smyrna Beach is looking to install a Parking Guidance System to help alleviate traffic congestion along Canal St and Flagler Ave. City will pay Risetek Global $462K to install a system that will show peak demand and parking space turnover rates….plus more details….

Orange City Council heard a presentation from Halifax Health/UFHealth Medical Center Exec Ben Eby….they also took up a contract for a new roundabout

Volusia/Flagler Transportation Planning Organization heard plans to upgrade Clyde Morris Blvd including…..resurfacing from Beville Rd to Mason Ave….adding multi-use paths and sidewalks..build new pedestrian tunnel at  ERAU….upgrade/improve drainage, lighting, traffic signals and landscaping

FACTOID…..Volusia Coastal Director Jessica Fentress points out that beach tourism contributes $4.3 billion annually to the County’s GDP (17% total) which generated 31% of Volusia’s annual sales tax revenue

FACTOID…..in 2025, Volusia Sheriff’s office made 10,717 arrests countywide with overall 80% case clearance rate

Feb 17…..by a 4-3 vote, County Council voted down 2 proposals that would have prohibited "blackwater" or water with treated sewage from being recycled into drinking water

City of Daytona Beach continues work on Boardwalk Beach Access…adjacent to the Bandshell….project includes 4 parallel ramps and 14 sets of stairs designed to improve public beach access

Volusia Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) and Volusia Emergency Management to host Hurricane Expo Saturday, April 18, 10 AM – 4 PM at Daytona Intl Speedway

Feb 16 - Deland City Commission

Feb 17 - Port Orange Mayor Scott Stiltner presented a State of the City report AND City Council approved their list of road projects for the TPO’s Priority List

Average monthly rental rates for 1-2-3-bedroom apartments in Daytona/Volusia

January numbers for First Step Shelter

Sunrail update……Dec 31 - FDOT stopped direct funding SunRail costs after Dec  31…SO 5 Central Florida Commuter Rail entities (Orlando, Osceola, Orange, Seminole and Volusia) to start paying the bills…plus other SunRail news/ideas

Legislature focused on FY 2026-27 budgets….Senate proposes to spend $115 B while House is proposing $113 B budgets

US economy…..

Interview with Ormond Beach Mayor Jason Leslie

Feb 9 - Charter Review Commission Meeting Update – Pat Northey

Volusia’s 4th Quarter 2025 Economic Statistics

Fla Senate/House budget subcommittees are completing their work as leadership begins preparing draft budgets

Volusia Values Veterans Program launched Honor a Veteran initiative to recognize local veterans who continue to serve their community

Orange City has appointed Jerome Miller as their Police Chief of the Police Department

S Daytona City Mgr Les Gillis reports on the City's efforts to address storm water management

Holly Hill Historic Society has been coordinating plans with the City Commission for the City’s 125th Anniversary

School Board accepted grants to provide bonuses for computer science teachers and to harden school buildings against harsh weather

Gov DeSantis reappointed Audrey Butler, Harold Goodemote, Andrew Lupoli, and Thomas McCall to the Halifax Health Board of Commissioners

Regarding the State compact with the Seminole Tribe…. Fla is receiving $4.4 billion through FY 2028–29

With recent Congressional vote, 11 of 12 federal government

departments/agencies are funded thru September 30….per a $1.2 trillion appropriations bill.

BUT…Dept of Homeland Security (DHS) is only funded through today...if Congress doesn’t reache a deal today to resolve the DHS standoff —agency funding could lapse leading to a partial shutdown of DHS functions.

Interview with Rep Chase Tramont

Feb 3 – Per their recent 2026 Goal Setting Session……County Council scheduled several Mini-Budget Workshops

Feb 3 – County Council accepted a long-range ECHO Vision Strategic Plan and directed staff to maintain current procedures, continue implementing it.

Feb 4 - DB City Commission approved a resolution Bike Week 2026 Master Plan for Public Property (Bike Week runs Thursday, February 27 to Sunday, March 8)

Deltona’s Economic Development Department has engaged Retail Strategies (a national retail recruitment/consulting firm).

Feb 2 - City of DeBary is offering a Business Façade Grant to help local commercial properties improve the exterior of their buildings

Feb 1 - Edgewater City Council adopted a wastewater treatment master plan

Fla Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has reported 42 auto insurance companies have filed for rate decreases for 2026 — indicating price relief is broad-based across the market

US House of Representatives voted 217–214 to approve a spending package of 11 annual appropriations bills that fund government agencies and programs through Sept 30…. effectively ending a partial government shutdown

January Consumer Confidence Index fell to 84.5, a sharp drop from 94.2 in December…. the lowest since 2014, reflecting consumers are worried about inflation, job market conditions, and overall economic outlook.

Interview with Rep Bill Partington

Daytona Beach City Commission delayed a proposed $4.3 million purchase of the Cruisin' Café (at the corner of A1A at Main St) and two adjacent parcels. This is part of an effort to provide additional parking and rejuvenate the area.

City of Daytona Beach hosted a community meeting to discuss a proposed update to its Code of Ordinances regarding mobile food vendors.

Port Orange Riverwalk Development project update from Port Orange City Manager Wayne Clark…..

Volusia Forever Advisory Committee meet at Friday, Jan 30, 9 AM in the County Admin Bldg DeLand…..Members will rank the 2025 Cycle 6 Volusia Forever eligible applications.

County Council approved $6.8 million for stormwater improvements at Corbin Park in New Smyrna Beach…AND $1.6 million allocated for Phase II of NSB's Stormwater Master Plan (part of the Transform386 initiative)

New Smyrna Beach City Commission passed an ordinance to prohibit overnight sleeping in vehicles or outdoors on public rights-of-way and private property without permission from 11 PM - 6 AM

Tickets are STILL available for First Step Shelter Mayor’s Gala on Feb 7, 6 PM at the Daytona Beach Hilton

Jan 28 – Volusia/Flagler Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) will review for approval…..

Florida legislature is focusing heavily on affordability….property tax relief…AI Bill of Rights….budget….during Week 3 of the 2026 legislative session

Political standoff in Washington — especially over Dept of Homeland Security (and ICE) funding — heightens the chance that Congress will not approve the funding bills by the January 30 deadline, making another shutdown more likely

Interview with County Councilman Jake Johansson